Printing Members Patents (Class 101/109)
  • Patent number: 11587581
    Abstract: A near-field transducer or heat sink is formed via a first process. The near-field transducer or heat sink is transfer-printed to a read/write head via a second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gubbins, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Marcus B. Mooney, Mark Ostrowski, Tong Zhao, Michael J. Hardy, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Neil Zuckerman, Declan Macken, Francis A. McGinnity
  • Patent number: 10984821
    Abstract: A near-field transducer or heat sink is formed via a first process. The near-field transducer or heat sink is transfer-printed to a read/write head via a second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gubbins, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Marcus B. Mooney, Mark Ostrowski, Tong Zhao, Michael J. Hardy, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Neil Zuckerman, Declan Macken, Francis A. McGinnity
  • Patent number: 9842197
    Abstract: A digital image with athletic information organized on it to be output to a computer, smartphone and/or physical, including adhesive-backed textiles that remain adhesive and retain ink when water or perspiration is present in the environment, paper, and other media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas C Powell, Carolyn F Humphrey, John G Humphrey, Corey L. Reil
  • Patent number: 9434153
    Abstract: A numbering machine (100, 200) includes a housing (101, 201) and a wheel axle (107), arranged in a removable manner in the housing (101, 201), with a plurality of number wheels (108), which can each be moved individually and are arranged in for rotation. The number wheels (108) can be driven by a gearwheel (114). A drive shaft (111, 112), with a drive pinion (113), is connected to the drive shaft (111, 112) for each number wheel (108) which can be driven by means of a gearwheel (114). A displaceable drive shaft (112) can be transferred from an operating position, in which the number wheel (108) is driven by a gearwheel (114) by the displaceable drive shaft (112), to a removal position, in which the displaceable drive shaft (112) releases the number wheel (108) which can be driven by means of a gearwheel (114) and the wheel axle (107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: PAUL LEIBINGER GMBH & CO. KG, Nummerier-und Markierungssysteme
    Inventors: Dietmar Waizenegger, Josef Anton Waizenegger
  • Patent number: 8955431
    Abstract: An imprinter for creating impressions of designs in media such as buttercream, fondant, gum paste, modeling dough, and cookie dough for decoration. The imprinter includes a retainer having a retainer body and at least one retaining portion and a lock configured to be received by the retainer. The lock has a lock retaining portion engageable with the retaining portion of the retainer to selectably secure the lock to the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Wilton Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David Starr, Erin Smith, Traci Chapple, Stephanie Goode, Mason Umholtz, Angie Lullie, John McDavitt
  • Publication number: 20130025480
    Abstract: An adjustment wheel assembly of an adjustable stamp, mounted on an adjustment wheel unit of the adjustable stamp, has a printing type cover combined with a torsion spring and pivotally mounted on the adjustable wheel unit, and a fastener mounted on the adjustment wheel unit. The printing type cover has a tab and a snap part formed on another side of the printing type cover to engage the fastener and disengage the fastener when a pressing part of the fastener is pressed. The torsion spring enables the printing type cover to flip up. The printing type cover is closed and fixed by pressing down the tab formed on an edge portion of the printing type cover. Accordingly, users' fingers can be prevented from being stained upon flipping up and closing the printing type cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Hsu-Shen SHIH
  • Patent number: 8336454
    Abstract: When a roller is moved to an opening of a case by a pressing action to the roller, a cover member on a stamp face rotates such that the stamp face is exposed at the opening. Such a mechanism allows a working state and an off-duty state of a roller stamp to be easily switched between. Also, the cover member covers the opening side of the stamp face before the roller is squeezed out. Such a configuration prevents the stamp face from being accidentally exposed while the roller stamp is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Plus Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Ushijima
  • Patent number: 8261660
    Abstract: Provided are an optimized tool apparatus and methods for dry transfer printing of semiconductor elements with high yield and good placement accuracy. The tool apparatus comprises a vacuum coupled fast peel apparatus that provides high pickup yield of the semiconductor elements. In an aspect, this vacuum coupled apparatus provides high pickup rates during pickup of the semiconductor elements from a donor/source wafer. Provided is a tool apparatus for dry transfer printing with a reinforced composite stamp having a thin glass-backing. The tool apparatus also comprises a pressure regulated micro-chamber which provides precise control of a composite stamp lamination and de-lamination. In an aspect, the micro-chamber has an internal cavity volume that is variably controlled, thereby providing precise control of the force on the stamp, and corresponding separation velocity, and improved semiconductor element pick-up and/or placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Semprius, Inc.
    Inventor: Etienne Menard
  • Patent number: 8230782
    Abstract: A stamp die assembly for a self-inking stamping device has a die bracket and a replaceable stamp die. The replaceable stamp die is mounted detachably on the die bracket via the engagement between the median tab of the replaceable stamp die and the transverse recess of the die bracket, and via the engagement between the side strips of the replaceable stamp die and the keyed recesses of the die bracket. The die bracket has two elongated keyed protrusions parallel with each other and near two side edges. The replaceable stamp die has two guiding channels engaging with the keyed protrusions. Therefore, the related position of the die bracket and the replaceable stamp die is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Warm Sun Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsu-Shen Shih
  • Patent number: 7913618
    Abstract: A punch press tool for stamping successive multicharacter impressions into a workpiece such as a piece of steel, sheet metal, or other workpiece, includes a guide body in which a stamp driver is slidably mounted for being driven downwardly toward the workpiece by a punch press ram which is a standard part of a high speed commercial punch press. A multicharacter marking stamp is supported at the lower end of the stamp driver for reciprocal movement therewith. The marking stamp includes multicharacter wheels that are rotated automatically during operation for advancing characters in sequence responsive to the movement of a character advancing arm. At least one character stamp operating lever is operatively associated with the punch press tool for articulation responsive to motion imparted to the tool by the ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Mate Precision Tooling, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Ferry, David A. Berry
  • Patent number: 7730834
    Abstract: The printing apparatus, presented herein, comprises a patterning device having a curved member that supports a stamp on its surface. The curved member is adapted to roll over a substrate to be printed on to transfer the pattern onto the substrate. An illumination system directs light onto the region of the substrate that is being printed in order to set a layer of resist, which has been sprayed onto the substrate. The light is directed via a pattern that is made on the surface of the stamp, thereby transferring the pattern to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Klaus Simon
  • Patent number: 7707933
    Abstract: A golf ball stamper which securely holds a golf ball while the golf ball is stamped. The golf ball stamper comprises a handle, a stamping element coupled to the handle, and a golf ball receptacle sized to hold a golf ball. When the handle is pushed, the stamping element applies a stamp to the golf ball. The golf ball receptacle stabilizes and holds the golf ball while it is stamped to ensure a legible stamp is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Khosrow Daivari
  • Patent number: 7698999
    Abstract: The printing apparatus, presented herein, comprises a patterning device having a curved member that supports a stamp on its surface. The curved member is adapted to roll over a substrate to be printed on to transfer the pattern onto the substrate. An illumination system directs light onto the region of the substrate that is being printed in order to set a layer of resist, which has been sprayed onto the substrate. The light is directed via a pattern that is made on the surface of the stamp, thereby transferring the pattern to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Klaus Simon
  • Patent number: 7296515
    Abstract: A stamp housing that defines an interior channel and a window, with a carrier received within the channel and movable from a first position to a second position, and a stamp body attached to the carrier and configured with a stamp image that receives an ink for transferring the stamp image to an article upon pressing application against the article with the carrier in the second position aligning the stamp image with the window of the housing, with the first position enclosing the stamp image remotely within the housing and non-aligned with the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: IDG, LLC
    Inventor: Chanseol Chung
  • Patent number: 7104196
    Abstract: A rolling marker assembly enables a user to mark serially-presented, repeating patterns upon a marking surface. The marker assembly comprises an outer casing and a marking caster assembly. The marking caster assembly comprises at least one compressible medium-dispensing pad and at least one pad mask. The pad mask comprises at least one patterned aperture. The medium-dispensing pad is impregnated with a compression-releasable marking medium. The caster assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation and the medium-dispensing pad is compressible against the pad mask thus forming at least one pattern-exposed pad portion adjacent the patterned aperture. The marker assembly is manually traceable adjacent a marking surface and the pattern-exposed pad portion is compressible upon the marking surface for dispensing the marking medium therefrom for marking a pattern upon the marking surface. The casing enables the user to more effectively guide and compress the caster assembly for marking the pattern(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventors: Alexander W. Fong, Albert F. Ditzig
  • Patent number: 7011024
    Abstract: A stamp die assembly for a self-inking stamping device has a die bracket and a replaceable stamp die. The die bracket has a bracket block, a transverse recess, two clips and a fastener bracket. The replaceable stamp die is detachably mounted on the bracket and has a fastener and a plug. The fastener is formed on a back edge of the die block and extends through a slot of the fastener bracket in the die bracket. The plug is defined on a top end of the median tab and is mounted between the clips. The stamp die assembly is compact and lowers the cost of the self-inking stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Shiny Shih
  • Patent number: 6983691
    Abstract: A retractable stamp has a longitudinal spring with a tension that can be adjusted. The adjustable stamp has a housing, a base, a cover, a handle, an adjustment knob and a position ring. The housing has a character unit mounted inside, and the base is mounted on the housing. The cover is mounted outside the housing and the base, and the handle is connected to the cover. The longitudinal spring is mounted inside the handle and retracts the character unit into the cover. The adjustment knob is mounted rotatably in the handle, and the position ring holds the adjustment knob in place. When the adjustment knob is turned, the tension of the spring can be changed to make the character unit stamp a clear imprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Inventor: Shiny Shih
  • Patent number: 6964229
    Abstract: A method for recording multi-event athletic meet information on skin comprises the steps of printing an array on an athlete's skin and then populating the array with competition information, which may include such information categories as event description, heat number and lane number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Terri Chassay “T. C.” Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6935231
    Abstract: A stamp, comprising a stamping case; a rail provided inside said stamping case, having a locus of making a U-turn on a stamping surface of a stamp; and a strip belt for sliding along said rail by being engaged with the rail, attached a plurality of stamping surfaces at predetermined intervals and provided with a tab protruding outside of said stamping case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Taisei Plas Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Naritomi
  • Patent number: 6910418
    Abstract: A variable pattern stamp has a base and a stamp plate unit. The base has smooth face and preferably is transparent. The stamp plate unit has multiple pattern plates and a protective sheet. The pattern plates have different or the same patterns and are preferably transparent. The protective sheet keeps the pattern plate from wrinkling, sticking to itself and getting dirty and losing its tackiness. After an individual pattern plate is selected and separated from adjacent pattern plates, the selected pattern plate is bonded detachably to the base and can be easily changed. People just buy one stamp and can stamp multiple patterns on papers and at the correct location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: Wayne Yu
  • Patent number: 6739255
    Abstract: The stamp (10) for use in a lithographic process, such as patterning a surface layer, of the invention has a stamp body (1) with a first (11) and a second side (12), at which first side (11) a printing face (2) is present and at which second side (12) a stack of a carrier body (4) and a reservoir (3) for liquid are present. The carrier body contains channels (5) in order that the liquid can be transported from the reservoir (3) to the stamp body (1) and further to the printing face (2). The stamp may be embodied as a cylinder, allowing a continuous lithographic printing process. This process results in patterns on a micron or submicron scale. The stamp (10) may furthermore be included in a larger apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Hillebrand Blees, Peter Jan Slikkerveer, Sigrid Maria Roman Gelderland
  • Patent number: 6676315
    Abstract: In a device for printing and delivering semi-rigid tag-type labels (5) to packaging and sealing machines a feed means has a finger (13) translationally moved to and fro, which during the working stroke grasps behind a shoulder of the respective label and advances the same by a defined distance, whereas during the return stroke it glides over the succeeding label until at the end of the return stroke it grasps behind the shoulder of this succeeding label. During the return stroke a printing and embossing roller (15) lifted off during the working stroke is urged against the succeeding label, and the same is inscribed. This ensures that every single tag-type label is correctly printed and delivered for attachment to the object to be labelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eggo Haschke
  • Patent number: 6659001
    Abstract: A stamp of liquid-exuding type has a multiple-seal-faced assembly adapted for stamping with selected one of these multiple faces, preferably for stamping with multiple colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Yamahachi Kemikaru Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuyuki Toyama
  • Patent number: 6655286
    Abstract: A method for transferring an inked feature pattern from a stamp to a substrate is disclosed wherein the stamp and/or substrate is flexed into a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical surface before being contacted with each other. The stamp and substrate are contacted and at least one line of contact is advanced across the surface of the stamp in order to transfer the feature pattern from the stamp to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6596124
    Abstract: A method of forming a cellular material or “core” by immersing the core in water until it is sufficiently flexible to be molded around a tool into the required shape and then drying the formed core such that the core then retains that shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Nigel Hookham, Andrew Lee
  • Patent number: 6415714
    Abstract: A system for forming artistic ink impressions. A case stores ink stamping accessories and/or allows large surface area stamps to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Winston
  • Patent number: 6360658
    Abstract: A stamp playset includes a book-like case supporting a plurality of symbol pads together with an elongated inking pad and a generally cylindrical roller stamp. The roller stamp includes a cylindrical housing within which a cylindrical roller is supported. The cylindrical roller defines a plurality of attachment slots which receive attachment flanges of selected symbol pads. The symbol pads are arrangeable in a variety of sequences as desired. The roller further supports a symbol cube having a plurality of symbol elements. The symbol cube is rotatably supported to facilitate alignment of a selected one of the plurality of symbol elements thereon within the sequence of symbols to be roller stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Terry Benson
  • Patent number: 6324977
    Abstract: A stamp assembly for use with an ink to create an image having an area on a surface of a workpiece. The stamp assembly comprises a handle member having a surface with an area at least approximating the area of the image. A flexible sheet-like embossing member is provided and has opposite first and second sides. The first side has a first side surface and the second side has an embossed portion with a substantially planar raised surface corresponding to the image. The first side of the embossing member is removably secured by interfacial tack to the surface of the handle member. The embossed portion is adapted to receive ink on the raised surface and the raised surface is adapted to thereafter engage the surface of the workpiece to form the image on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Arlo, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Hadden
  • Patent number: 6298777
    Abstract: The dry printing apparatus comprises a housing defining a handle portion, a dry printing unit mounted to an open lower end of the housing, an air convection passage, and a guide member. The air convection passage extends through a space between the dry printing unit and side walls of the housing as well as through openings in a top wall of this housing. Convection air flows through the air convection passage to prevent the handle portion from being heated by the dry printing unit. The guide member is telescopically mounted in the open lower end of the housing between extended and retracted positions and is spring-biased toward the extended position. In operation, the guide member is applied to the surface to be dry printed and pressure is manually applied to the handle portion to telescopically move the housing and dry printing unit about the guide member until the dry printing unit reaches the surface to be dry printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventors: Constant Dubois, André Lafleur, Pierre Patenaude, Eric Bussiere
  • Patent number: 6244180
    Abstract: A system for forming artistic ink impressions. A case stores ink stamping accessories and/or allows large surface area stamps to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Winston
  • Patent number: 6098535
    Abstract: The invention is a method of making a stamp face (the imprinting part of the hand stamp consisting of letters, numbers and/or pictures) interchangeable, removable and re-attachable to the stamp mount. The device consists of a new use for hook and loop fasteners. The hook and loop fasteners, when permanently attached to the stamp face and the bottom of the stamp mount (handle) allow the user to attach and re-attach a stamp face or interchange stamp faces an unlimited number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Joy Lynn
  • Patent number: 6009805
    Abstract: The object is to provide a printing apparatus wherein the rotation of endless printing bands is limited in a manner that keeps excessive rotational force from acting on the endless printing bands 7 themselves, thereby avoiding wear, cracking and other damage, and wherein forcible rotation of the endless printing bands causes idle rotation of selector wheels 5 and puts only moderate load on the endless printing bands. Attention is directed to adoption of selector wheel 5 rotation restricting members of a movable type and to enabling the movable stop members 14 to move when excessive force acts on the selector wheels 5 or the endless printing bands 5. A stop bearing member 15 is provided to abut on elastic sections 14B of the movable stop members 14, and engagement between drive projections 7E and the elastic sections 14B with movement of the endless printing bands 7 enables movement of the movable stop members 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
    Inventors: Tsutomu Miketa, Tadao Kashiwaba, Takeo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5909709
    Abstract: A stackable stamp assembly used to form images on a surface includes a substantially congruent and releasably engageable base, intermediate members, and cover assembly. A stamp is attached to each of the intermediate members. The intermediate members are dish-shaped so that the stamp of an upper member is received within the member disposed immediately below when the members are stacked one on top of the other. The assembly may also includes ways to facilitate the alignment of the assembly with the surface on which an imprint of the stamp is to be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Fiskars Inc.
    Inventors: Suk Ku An, Norman D. Siegfried, Brian L. Adkinson
  • Patent number: 5890427
    Abstract: Stamping part so fitted inside the casing (3) of a stamp that it is movable in the vertical direction, pressed by means of a know (4), which stamping part, to enable stamping, is provided with stamping pieces (10-12) placed in socket parts (19). The sockets are connected together in at least one endless band (16,17) by means of connecting lobes (20) between the foot ends of the sockets so that in connecting lobes and socket foot parts form a band. Moreover, the stamping part has a vertical framework (7,9) whose top and bottom ends are so rounded that the band can be revolved around said framework to select a desired stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Leimasinteollisuus Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Lindqvist
  • Patent number: 5799576
    Abstract: Endless printing belts with plural types of printing areas arranged on outer surfaces thereof are wound around printing support shafts and printing rotation members. Display rotation mechanisms have, arranged on outer surfaces thereof, display characters corresponding to printing characters in the printing areas arranged on the outer surfaces of the printing belts. A control member applies a torque to each printing rotation member or display rotation mechanism whereby the printing rotation member and display rotation mechanism rotate synchronously. As a result, printing surfaces of the printing areas are successively set to a printing position adjacent the printing support shaft, and display characters corresponding to the printing characters in the printing areas set to the printing position are successively set to a display position. The user may observe the display characters successively appearing in the display position to set display characters corresponding to desired printing characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Koike, Toshinori Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5743185
    Abstract: A flexible thermally conductive stamp and material is fabricated of a support handle and a heat conductive member. The heat conductive member supports raised image portions which together with the heat conductive member are formed of a flexible resilient thermally conductive material. The thermally conductive material is preferably fabricated of a mixture of Plastisol and aluminum powder. Portions of the raised image area of the stamp include angled side surfaces which improve the thermal conductivity of the stamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hippely, Terence A. Choy, Kevin W. Gray, Brian E. Walsh
  • Patent number: 5709145
    Abstract: A matrix plate and a matrix plate holder for a hand stamp are disclosed, wherein the matrix plate can be easily attached to and detached from the matrix plate holder. The matrix plate includes a mounting element defining a guide, a pair of arc-shaped fitting portions integrally formed on two lateral sides and a front of the guide, wherein each fitting portion defining an engaging tip, and a pair of manipulating wings integrally formed on two lateral sides of the fitting portions. The matrix plate holder includes a main board defining a cutout, two locating blocks located beside the cutout, wherein each locating block defines a locating recess and a connecting structure for connection to a casing of the handle stamp. When the matrix plate and the matrix holder are assembled, the guide is fittingly received in the cutout, the fitting portions are fixedly clamped between the locating blocks and the engaging tips are received in the locating recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Shiny Shih
  • Patent number: 5619916
    Abstract: A printer comprising printing type belts 16 and 16' having printing types 16b and 16b' as well as indicating types 16d and 16d', and setting wheels 7 and 7' for turning the printing type belts, and configured to limit the turnings of the printing type belts for preventing the indicating types from being fouled, and to allow the setting wheels to rotate idly for preventing breakage of the printer itself after the printing type belts have reached rotation-limited positions. The rotation-limited position is determined by a pair of convexities 16e and 16f or 16e' and 16f' formed on each of the printing type belts and edges 4a and 5a or 4a' and 5a' of display window frames 4 and 5 or 4' and 5'. The setting wheels are allowed to rotate idly by recesses which are formed in the printing type belts so as to be engaged with teeth 7b and 7b' of the setting wheels, and configured so as to have slanted surfaces 16h and 16h' rising from sides near the convexities toward sides far from the convexities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Shinsei Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 5493967
    Abstract: A value selection and printing apparatus includes a printing device having a printing wheel which is rotatable into a plurality of positions to present a corresponding plurality of value printing elements into a printing position; a value selecting device including a moveable first rack gear having a driven element thereon, a rigid guide shaft mounted within the printing device, a second rack gear mounted to be slidable on the guide shaft and having a driving element thereon in engagement with the driven element, wherein the second rack gear operatively engages the printing wheel so that rotation of the printing wheel occurs due to transmission of a moment of the first rack gear to the printing wheel via the second rack gear; and a substantially cylindrical security sleeve slidably disposed on the guide shaft and moveable in response to sliding movement of the second rack gear on the guide shaft wherein the guide shaft includes a weakened section such that at times when a force sufficient to disassociate the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Malin, Christopher M. Giles, Brian R. O'Neale, Stephen J. Rigo
  • Patent number: 5469786
    Abstract: An enclosed ink cup for a pad-type printing machine including a hollow structure defining a reservoir region that is closed around the sides and top, is open only at the bottom, and has a lower edge for sealably contacting an engraved printing plate so as to contain ink within the structure over the plate, and a vacuum port in the structure that communicates with the top of the region for applying a vacuum to the region above the ink to promote sealable contact between the lower edge and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Imtran Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Harris
  • Patent number: 5452654
    Abstract: A postage metering system includes input means for inputting into the system a value of postage to be imprinted on a mail piece and means storing data concerning appropriate postage value amounts. A printing means is provided for printing a first postage imprint and for printing a different second postage imprint. Print control means are coupled to the printing means and the storing means for causing the printing means to print the first postage imprint for an appropriate postage value and the second postage imprint for postage value which are other than the appropriate postage raise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Connell, Wallace Kirschner
  • Patent number: 5339734
    Abstract: This invention describes a hand-held unit incorporating a plurality of character carrying members in the form of continuous bands or strips which can be mechanically adjusted, as desired, to display a series of desired analog numbers at the first location and to produce a bar code representation thereof at a second location. Such continuous bands or strip allow a user to apply an imprint of the bar code representation produced directly to a document--for example, as a bar code representation of a Postal Service Zip-Code destination to a piece of mail. A plurality of tabbed strips are disposed for actuation to display the analog numbers on the continuous bands and to bring the bar code representation into position. Each of the continuous bands has a plurality of tabs to allow for the movement of the individual strips within the slotted body of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventors: Reynaldo A. Mustafa, James Kinstrey
  • Patent number: 5069122
    Abstract: A thermal marking device for surfaces of binder-containing webs of mineral wool includes, mounted on a raisable and lowerable mounting frame, a roller which has on its periphery electrically heatable marking elements. The marking elements carry image panels, the marking sections of which take the form of letters, symbols, pictorial represenations etc. and project at least 5 mm beyond the surface of the image panel. Furthermore, the envelope curve of the surface of the marking sections corresponds substantially to the outer surface of an annular cylinder, the axis of which coincides with the axis with the axis of the roller. Furthermore, the marking device is equipped with heating elements, the heating output from which can be locally and variously adjusted. As a result, it is possible to produce homogeneous marked patterns by a suitably reduced or increased supply of energy at locations having need for heat output while creating non-homogeneous decomposition patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Isover Saint-Gobain
    Inventors: Friedrich Kaufmann, Horst-Werner Schlossherr, Egon Zinn
  • Patent number: 5048414
    Abstract: Described herein is an automatic stamper for imprinting desired letters or characters on documents, which is of the type including a printing block having a plural number of stamp units mounted around the circumference of a drum, a support frame rotatably and detachably supporting the printing block, and a base structure having a document support surface and supporting thereon the support frame movably for a reciprocal movement toward and away from the document support surface. The stamp units are detachably mounted on stamp support surfaces on and around the circumferences of the drum such that the longitudinal axes of the respective stamp units are disposed parallel with the axis of the drum for the sake of compact construction, while the support frame is automatically driven from an electric motor which is adapted to be closed upon setting a document on the document support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Elm Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Hoshino
  • Patent number: 4995315
    Abstract: An imprinting apparatus for imprinting checks, money orders and like negotiable instruments includes adjustable type segment members having type characters thereon for printing the dollar and cents amount of the money order in conventional arabic characters and in characters which are readable by an optical character recognition device, the apparatus including two platen assemblies operated by a common operating lever to simultaneously imprint the money order with both conventional arabic and optical character readable information, one of the platen assemblies being operable to effect impact movement of an associated platen in imprinting the form. The apparatus employs a replaceable inked ribbon cartridge including a ribbon bearing a dye-based ink which permeates the money order from front to back as a deterrent to alteration of a dollar amount imprinted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: The Paymaster Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Koper, Howard R. Konieczka
  • Patent number: 4970952
    Abstract: A date-stamping apparatus having a casing, a bridge member located at the lower end of the casing, a tension roller located above the casing and forced upwardly, an endless date-printing belt having printing letters on its outside surface and spanned between the bridge member and the tension roller, a date-belt driving wheel located within the casing at a substantially intermediate portion. The date of driving wheel has a circumferential engagement section co-operating with the belt and being contacted by the outside surface of the belt, and an electric motor intermittently energized by a timing circuit and operatively connected with the belt-driving wheel, so that stamped date is electrically adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Shachihata Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Imao Hiraga, Masamori Uchikawa, Makoto Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4939990
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary stamping apparatus including a shaft member having a polygonal configuration in a cross-section perpendicular to its axis of rotation and holding a plurality of stamp cartridges faced outwardly; a gripper case for supporting the shaft member at its opposite sides, the gripper case having an invert U-shaped configuration in cross-section; an elevator frame slidably mounted within the gripper case and movable between an outer position in which the outer end of the elevator frame is positioned outwardly from a plane including one of the stamp cartridges located in its usable position and an inner position in which the elevator frame is retracted inwardly from the plane, the elevator frame being resiliently biased toward the outer position; a selector knob for rotating the shaft member to the desired position; and each of the stamp cartridges being capable of being detachably mounted on the shaft member by sliding the stamp cartridge in the plane of rotation of the shaft me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: Shachibata Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Inaguma, Masayuki Hasegawa, Akira Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 4928089
    Abstract: An encoder for a wheel comprises a linear Hall-effect sensor and magnet mounted on a non-ferrous metal shaft. A ferrous metal ring having a toothed structure extending inward such that each tooth ends at a point on a spiral curve is molded into the printwheel encircling the shaft. The Hall-effect sensor output provides a determined output when each tooth is positioned over the sensor to enable an absolute position determination while the signal drop off between the teeth as the wheel is moved allows for counting the steps between settings for relative encoding and redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Donatas V. Gasiunas, Anthony Storace
  • Patent number: 4628812
    Abstract: A credit card imprinter having a number of rotatable type faces to imprint the amount of purchase on a credit card receipt. The type wheels are coaxially arranged and rotatably supported adjacent and in contact with the receipt to be imprinted. The imprinter is provided with a mechanism for positioning the type wheels which includes a member which translates along the type wheels to successively set same to the desired position, thereby allowing all of the type wheels to be positioned with a single mechanism. A roller is then used to imprint the type on the receipt and the type wheels are reset to the starting position by a reset mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: James C. Fisk
  • Patent number: RE33134
    Abstract: A mechanism for encoding continuously moving documents. Documents are transported between a plurality of fixed dies and a plurality of electronically controlled hammers. An ink bearing ribbon is interposed between the documents and the fixed dies and is momentarily transported at the same velocity as the documents. As the documents traverse the plurality of fixed dies, the electronically controlled hammers are cycled, in a selected sequence and at selected positions, to provide the desired encoding. In those applications wherein the cycle time of the electronically controlled hammers is too slow to allow identical encoding in adjacent position, a second plurality of fixed dies and electronically controlled hammers may be located adjacent to the first plurality or interspersed among the first plurality of fixed dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: BancTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald L. Johnson, Eugene C. Nolting, John H. Allen