Associating Or Disassociating Patents (Class 270/52.01)
  • Patent number: 10489091
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a hardware processor; an image former that outputs a printed sheet obtained by forming a plurality of imposed images on a sheet in response to a command from the hardware processor; and an image reader that reads the printed sheet and outputs read images according to a command from the hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor performs, according to a command from the hardware processor, an inspection process of comparing a reference image included in a predetermined inspection unit with an image selected from the read image on the basis of the unit inspection, and obtains an inspection result in which the image selected from the read images which is matched with the reference image is determined to be a normal image and the image selected from the read images which is not matched with the reference image is determined to be an abnormal image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9796195
    Abstract: A web processing apparatus comprising a web transport station and a web processing station. The web transport station comprises a web tension control assembly, which comprises a first tensioning device and a second tensioning device. Said first tensioning device is movably arranged for controlling tension of a first web. Said second tensioning device is movably arranged for controlling tension of a second web independently of the tension of the first web. Said first tensioning device comprises a first interior space and the first tensioning device is arranged with respect to the second tensioning device such that the first interior space at least partly accommodates the second tensioning device. The web processing apparatus allows for accurately controlling tension of the first and second webs simultaneously and independently of one another in a tandem mode, while maintaining the possibility for controlling tension of a single web in a single mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: John A. Lane
  • Patent number: 9648191
    Abstract: A method for controlling a job processing apparatus includes determining, when an instruction is issued to input a job by a voice that is input via a voice receiving unit, whether there is another job being executed. If the determining determines that the other job is being executed, an inquiry is made of a user about whether to interrupt the other job to execute the input job or to execute the input job without interrupting the other job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Ito
  • Publication number: 20150042029
    Abstract: The device for separating product parts of a multi-part, flat product includes a receiving unit for receiving the product, a device for separating the product parts and a retaining device for acting on one of the product parts for the purpose of maintaining the separation of the product parts. The receiving unit includes a first friction element and a second friction element, which is movable with respect to the first friction element. The two friction elements are arranged on the receiving unit such that the product can be firmly clamped between the friction elements. The friction elements are designed such that the static friction between the product part and the friction element assigned to this is greater than the static friction between the product parts, so that the product parts can be moved with respect to one another given a relative movement between the two friction elements firmly clamping the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Othmar Brunschwiler, Erwin Stauber
  • Patent number: 8467074
    Abstract: A method for controlling an apparatus, including a plurality of lockable discharge units configured to discharge a printed product having an image formed thereon based on a received job to any one of the plurality of lockable discharge units, includes managing information about a lockable discharge unit to which the printed product is discharged in association with information about a user, notifying the user to prompt picking up the printed product discharged to the lockable discharge unit based on the managed information, and determining whether a particular user is using the plurality of lockable discharge units based on the managed information, wherein, in a case where the particular user is using the plurality of lockable discharge units, the notification is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Hirose
  • Patent number: 8459632
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. DeWitt, George L. Hayduchok, Peter M. Chezik
  • Patent number: 8311665
    Abstract: When handling paper sheets, the paper sheet present at the uppermost or lowest part of each batch of the paper sheets is assigned as a designated paper sheet, and then intrinsic information on this designated paper sheet is associated with transaction information corresponding to the batch of the paper sheets. Thereafter, a plurality of batches of the paper sheets are stacked, one on another, in a certain number corresponding to transactions, while the intrinsic information on each designated paper sheet is already associated with the corresponding transaction information. Then, such stacked batches of the paper sheets are handled, collectively, by a paper sheet handling system. Thereafter, each recognition result on the plurality of batches of the paper sheets, respectively handled by the paper sheet handling system, is separated by utilizing each designated paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadaaki Uesaka, Hajime Morino, Keishi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8251360
    Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus is presented that includes a first module arranged along a sheet conveyance route from the upstream to the downstream thereof, and a second module arranged adjacent to the first module. The first module includes a first control part to transmit destination information and category information of discriminated sheets and to execute conveyance control to the sheet residing along the first conveyance route. The second module includes a second control part to execute conveyance control to the sheets residing along the second conveyance route, and to transmit information of the number of sheets in each category stacked in the first stacking device. The first control part is configured to execute a cross-check to determine whether the information of the number of sheets in each category received from the second control part matches the information of the number of sheets transmitted to the second control part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takao Mori
  • Patent number: 8210511
    Abstract: Two supply streams of printed products are combined to form a combined printed-product stream. For this purpose, the supply streams are conveyed into a combining region (V) in a main conveying direction (F) in a state in which they, for example, rest loosely on conveying surfaces, are parallel to one another, adjacent to one another and on the same level, inner and outer edges of the printed products (P) of the two supply streams being oriented parallel to the main conveying direction (F). At the entrance to the combining region (V), the inner edge region of each printed product of the first supply stream is raised and, as they are conveyed through the combining region (V), the printed products of the two supply streams are pushed transversely to the main conveying direction (F) and towards one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: H. Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 8157254
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. DeWitt, George L Hayduchok, Peter M Chezik
  • Patent number: 8147643
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pro label book includes printing static indicia on a web of label material, applying an adhesive to each portion of the web of label material that will become a label page in a pro label book that is not the portion of the web of label material that will become a top page of a label book to be formed if the adhesive is applied to a top surface of the web of label material or a bottom page of a label book to be formed if the adhesive is applied to the bottom surface of the web of label material, printing variable information on the web of label material, sheeting the web of label material to form label pages, and batching the label pages together utilizing the applied adhesive. Certain embodiments include attaching one of a backer or a cover to the web of label material following the printing static indicia step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Chicago Tag & Label, Inc.
    Inventors: F. Paul Valenti, Jr., Dan Hedger, Carl Opel
  • Publication number: 20110254214
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: C.G. BRETTING MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventor: James Andrew Walsh
  • Patent number: 7992853
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing documents is provided. Documents having a selected characteristic are placed into a first area, whereas documents not having the selected characteristic are placed into a second area. A sensor in the first area detects the presence of documents in the first area. The documents are conveyed to a scanner that scans the documents to obtain information regarding the documents. The processing of the documents is controlled by a processor. A document is electronically tagged as having the selected characteristic and processed accordingly in response to the detection of the document in the first area and in response to whether the document arrived at the scanner during a pre-determined time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: George L Hayduchok, Peter M. Chezik
  • Patent number: 7969592
    Abstract: The disclosed method identifies potentially faulty sheets that were printed when the parameters were outside the predetermined normal parameter range and maintains one or more locations of the potentially faulty sheets within the stacks of sheets. If one or more of the stacks of sheets contain one or more of the potentially faulty sheets, the method prints one or more printing fault cover sheets and outputs the printing fault cover sheets to the stacks of sheets that contain the potentially faulty sheets. The printing fault cover sheets identify the locations of the potentially faulty sheets within the stacks of sheets. By providing the printing fault cover sheets and continuing the printing operation, the method can be set to stop the printing only for printing parameters that physically prevent printing, and not for printing parameters that only affect printing quality, thereby maintaining high productivity while still allowing the user to easily locate sheets that potentially have printing faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg A. Bonikowski, Robert VanEe
  • Publication number: 20110140339
    Abstract: An inserter including a pocket for holding an unevenly folded printed product having a fold edge, a first section on a first side of the fold edge and a second section on a second side of the fold edge that is at least 20 percent shorter than the first section is provided. The pocket includes a lower support surface for supporting the fold edge, a first wall for supporting the first section and a second wall for supporting the second section. The first and second walls each have at least one cutout defined therein. The at least one cutout of the second wall includes a lower cutout edge that is less than a length of the second section away from the lower support surface. The inserter also includes a gripper for securely gripping unevenly folded printed product and removing the unevenly folded printed product from the pocket by passing through the at least one cutouts in the first and second walls. A method of inserting an insert into an unevenly folded printed product is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Roy Tassinari
  • Patent number: 7891650
    Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of proof sheets from a sheet-processing machine has at least one sheet catcher provided with a gripper device. The gripper draws the sheet out of the stacking region. A lower sheet catcher is first moved into the stacking region above the sheet stack. Following a deposition of at least one proof sheet, the sheet is gripped with the gripper device, and following sheets are held back with an upper sheet catcher. Then the proof sheet is drawn out of the stacking region by moving the lower sheet catcher and the gripper device back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Förch, Markus Möhringer, Paul Nicola, Marius Stelter, Ralf Wadlinger
  • Patent number: 7862018
    Abstract: In an apparatus for cutting to length sections of a spine insert (1) that is unwound from a supply reel and for bringing together the spine inserts with infed cover boards (8) in a roller applicator (5, 6) for the mechanized production of book cases, the invention proposes that the pair of cut length transport rollers (3.1) for drawing forward a defined drawing-off length (L) of the spine insert (1) and for positioning the spine insert in the cutting device (9) and the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) for transporting the cut-to-length spine inserts (1) into the roller applicator (5, 6) through a transport channel (2) can be driven independently of one another, wherein the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) can be intermittently driven in a cyclic fashion with a constant stroke (HZ) while the pair of cut length transport rollers (3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Tautz
  • Patent number: 7862020
    Abstract: Signatures are successively conveyed one after another by a conveying system from a printing press to a stack-forming device, in which the signatures are separated into stacks by a separating device. A remaining number of non-stacked signatures of a current production is counted with a counting device. The separating device separates the remaining number of signatures of the current production into standard stacks of a varying length between a minimum length and a maximum length based on the number of the counted remaining signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Mirko Haller, Christof Keller
  • Patent number: 7789380
    Abstract: Two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) of printed products are combined to form a combined printed-product stream. For this purpose, the supply streams are conveyed into a combining region (V) in a main conveying direction (F) in a state in which they, for example, rest loosely on conveying surfaces (3.1 and 3.2), are parallel to one another, adjacent to one another and on the same level, inner and outer edges of the printed products (P) of the two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) being oriented parallel to the main conveying direction (F). At the entrance to the combining region (V), the inner edge region of each printed product of the first supply stream (1.1) is raised and, as they are conveyed through the combining region (V), the printed products of the two supply streams (1.1 and 1.2) are pushed transversely to the main conveying direction (F) and towards one another. An inner edge region of a printed product of the second supply stream (1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: H. Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 7690635
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable first shaft, wherein the first shaft includes a first cam, a rotatable second shaft, an item gripper connected to the second shaft by a connection including a link and an offset shaft rotatably connected to the link, and a linkage. The link is adapted to rotate with the second shaft for pivoting the offset shaft about the second shaft. The item gripper includes jaws adapted to open and close when the offset shaft is axially rotated relative to the link. The linkage connects the first cam on the first shaft to a rider on the offset shaft. The linkage includes a second having a stepped surface for a stepped movement of the rider along the stepped surface to open the jaws during a predetermined angular movement of the offset shaft about the center axis of the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Antonelli, Jeffrey L. Chodack, Luciano Dos Santos, Russell W. Holbrook, Kevin O'Dea
  • Publication number: 20100038839
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Robert R. DeWitt, George L. Hayduchok, Peter M. Chezik
  • Patent number: 7611134
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cutting and processing sheets from a web of printed material comprising first and second side-by-side portions of sheets along a length of the web. A first transport is arranged to transport the web in a first horizontal direction. A web splitter splits portions of the web as they are transported on the first transport. An extended path transport, in line with the first transport, transports the second portion of the web in an extended path. A direct path transport, in line with the first transport, transports the first portion of the web on a more direct path. As a result of these different paths sheets within the first and second web portions are re-sequenced in a manner suitable for processing by downstream modules, such as a right angle turn module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Sussmeier, Boris Rozenfeld, William J. Wright, Daniel J. Williams, John R. Masotta
  • Patent number: 7537203
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Opex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. DeWitt, George L. Hayduchok
  • Patent number: 7438107
    Abstract: For attaching at least one flat supplementary product to a printed product, one leaf of the printed product is brought from a folded configuration into an essentially horizontal orientation. A supplementary product is attached, especially by an adhesive, to this horizontal leaf, preferably from above. Supplementary products can be attached to the front side and to the rear side of the printed product. The supplementary product is, for example, a commercial sample or a card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Roland Kost
  • Publication number: 20080237963
    Abstract: A method for arranging pages of a print product on fold sheets which are subsequently combined into an imposing scheme on print sheets is disclosed, wherein the print sheets are initially imprinted with the pages for producing the print product and then cut into the fold sheets, thereafter the fold sheets are folded and cut and collated into the print products, and in order to make the determination of the imposing schemes more variable initially the pages are assigned to partitions of the print products and pages of the print product included in a partition are either not separated from each other, or only separated from each other by a last cut of the print product and the partitions are disposed on the fold sheets, wherein partitions are depicted, which are hierarchically subordinated to the product components and superordinated to the pages, such that pages of the print product included in the partitions are either not separated from one another, or only separated from one another by a last cut of the pri
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Dieter Reichhart
  • Publication number: 20080203647
    Abstract: A support member 60 that projects to a sheet conveying direction and supports sheets, which are sorted and discharged, from a rear surface side thereof is provided in a discharge port 7a of a processing tray 12 or a standby tray 10. The support member 60 is installed not to interfere with a shutter 52 when the shutter 52 rises. The support member 60 is installed to be inclined upward at an angle equal to or larger than an installation angle of the processing tray 12 or the standby tray 10. The support member 60 may be formed of a conductor that conducts static electricity and installed in a metal section of the discharge port 7a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mikio Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7396006
    Abstract: A collating apparatus and method to merge different types of document sets into a single collated packet prior to a mail processing insertion operation. The collating device utilizes a synchronous conveyor pathway for conveying different types of document sets serially down the pathway and merging them into a single collated packet. The document sets are delivered downstream with a combination of pivotable and fixed position pusher members and are combined into a single collated packet in any desired order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Kapturowski, Richard D. Johnson, Joseph I. Zuech
  • Patent number: 7324242
    Abstract: A photographic processing system comprises: a printing unit 3 for forming photographic prints based on image data read out from a negative film; a CD-R writing device 2 for writing the image data in a CD-R; a sorter 14 having numerous trays 14a for collecting the photographic prints and the CD-R in an order unit; a lateral conveyor 13 for transporting the photographic prints formed by the printing unit 3 to the sorter 14; a CD-R transporting unit 20 for transporting the CD-R having the image data written therein to the sorter 14; and a control unit 40 for controlling the printing unit, the CD-R writing device and the sorter 14 in such a manner as to collect the photographic prints and the CD-R of the same order in a specific receiver among the numerous trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Kishi, Kimiharu Otani
  • Patent number: 7246798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling personalized CDs, DVDs and other types of optical disks, magnetic media, and data storage devices into magazines, catalogs, pamphlets, and other printed products in order to enhance the amount and quality of personalization associated with the printed product includes reading and/or writing personalized information to/from a data storage device and assembling the data storage device within a printed product that is to be delivered to a particular individual. The reading and/or writing of personalized information may be directed to either digital information stored on the data storage device or to more conventional optical indicia that is printed on and/or optically scanned from the data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres
  • Patent number: 7221996
    Abstract: A system for combined mailing of a plurality of diverse publications to a plurality of recipients at an optimized mail rate. The system includes a bindery for binding a plurality of the signatures where the bindery binding the plurality of signatures creates a plurality of first publications and a plurality of second publications. Each of the plurality of first and second publications are in a unique order, where the unique order identifies each of the plurality of first publications and each of the plurality of second publications with each of the plurality of recipients. A co-mailer is part of the system for combining the plurality of first publications with the plurality of second publications to form a plurality of diverse publications. The co-mailer merges the plurality of first and second publications in the unique order to send the plurality of diverse publications to the plurality of recipients at the optimized mail rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Donald B. Benson
  • Patent number: 7173722
    Abstract: A method of printing a digital photo including transmitting instructions for printing the photo to a printer, printing the photo onto a surface using the printer; also printing on the surface coded data indicative of an identity of the photo and a plurality of reference points on the photo, wherein the coded data is printed on the surface in a form which can be read by an optical sensing device to identify a location of the sensing device relative to the photo, thereby enabling a function to be invoked in relation to the photo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7134822
    Abstract: A guide apparatus for applying a cover to a bound stack of sheets, including a base unit which defines a book receiving surface and a first alignment member having a lower cover stop disposed along a reference line, and a first upper cover stop also disposed along the first reference line. A first book stop is included defining a stack engaging surface which is positioned intermediate the cover engaging surfaces of the first upper and lower cover stops and with said stack engaging surface extending a distance past said first reference line towards the book receiving surface. The first upper and lower cover stops are positioned to engage top and bottom cover sections of the cover, with the stack engaging surface being positioned to contact the edge of the stack so as to precisely align the stack with respect to the top and bottom cover sections in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Powis Parker Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Parker, Evelyn Steiner, Wayne Kassom
  • Patent number: 7102095
    Abstract: The combination of a first and a second product mail streams wherein the first stream includes wrapped products and the second stream includes unwrapped products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric E. Blohm
  • Patent number: 7063312
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing, stacking and thereafter collecting printed forms, includes: a dual registering stacking interface, that stacks and accumulates forms in a stack or in a continuing feeding as separate forms; and, a sequencer merger that receives the forms from the dual registering stacking interface and directs the forms in a selected order to an output end. The output end communicates with an accumulator that feeds the forms to a folder. The folder thereafter feeds the forms to a collector to be held until called for by a subsequent downstream device, such as a mail inserter device. The register, accumulator and collector are belt and/or roller driven devices, wherein the invention provides clutching assemblies for the transport belts and rollers in order to eliminate the streaking of the printed forms when idled forms are held stationary against the transport belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Douglas A. Keller
  • Patent number: 7036812
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing, stacking and thereafter collecting printed forms, includes: a dual registering stacking interface, that stacks and accumulates forms in a stack or in a continuing feeding as separate forms; and, a sequencer merger that receives the forms from the dual registering stacking interface and directs the forms in a selected order to an output end. The output end communicates with an accumulator that feeds the forms to a folder. The folder thereafter feeds the forms to a collector to be held until called for by a subsequent downstream device, such as a mail inserter device. The resister, accumulator and collector are belt and/or roller driven devices, wherein the invention provides clutching assemblies for the transport belts and rollers in order to eliminate the streaking of the printed forms when idled forms are held stationary against the transport belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Douglas A. Keller
  • Patent number: 7012211
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sequencing articles via a single sort pass or process includes a plurality of article receivers or collators positioned along a conveying or transport path and a plurality of carriages movable along the path. The carriages receive articles from at least one induct in a generally random manner and discharge the articles at the appropriate collators. The collators are operable to selectively receive the articles at an appropriate one of a plurality of bins of the collators, such that the articles are positioned within the bins of the collators in a sequenced manner. The articles may be unloaded to a plurality of collecting devices and/or manually unloaded and placed or stacked in a container in the desired sequence. The collecting devices may be manually unloaded while the collators simultaneously selectively receive articles during a subsequent sort wave or process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.
    Inventors: Dick D. Brinkley, Arthur J. Terpstra, Jr., Ricardo N. Schiesser, Jack W. Tomanek
  • Patent number: 6930802
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an image recording apparatus, which records images on a roll-type recording medium. The image recording apparatus includes a recording device to record an image on a recording medium by emitting ink onto the recording medium; a cutting member to cut the recording medium after the recording device records the image, the cutting member being disposed downstream in respect to the recording device in a conveying-direction of the recording medium; a second conveyance member to convey the recording medium, the second conveyance member being disposed at a position located between the recording device and the cutting member in the conveying-direction of the recording medium; and a conveyance controller to control the second conveyance member so as to generate a slack of the recording medium at a section between the recording device and the second conveyance member in the conveying-direction of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoaki Sugaya, Fujio Miyamoto, Takashi Tsutsumi, Minoru Maekawara, Kenichiro Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 6817518
    Abstract: A system for processing presentation instruments that includes a presentation instrument reservoir, a presentation instrument reader, a distribution stock holder, a distribution stock reader, two or more motor systems for advancing distribution stock and presentation instruments, and attaching the presentation instruments to the distribution stock. In some cases, the motor systems can interface to an interface controller via a serial interface, and the interface controller can be coupled to a process control computer via an Ethernet connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Greene, Scott J. Smith, Jeff Nowlin, Douglas S. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6809841
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for marking pages printed for a print job in correspondence with an identification of a user that initiates a print job. The method may include indicating, to a printer, the identification of the user, selecting, by the user, a mark to associate with the user's identification, sending, by the user, the print job to the printer, and printing, by the printer, the mark automatically on each page printed for the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Jon A. Brewster
  • Patent number: 6730870
    Abstract: Large items such as magazines or large envelopes lie flat upon and are transported by a first conveyor in a first, transverse direction until they sequentially encounter a frustoconical member rotatably mounted to a back wall. A second conveyor is disposed normal to the first conveyor so that it transports the items that have encountered the frustoconical member in a second direction normal to the first. A rotatably mounted barrier has a first, retracted position where it does not interfere with items approaching the frustoconical member and a second, deployed position where it stops the items short of the frustoconical member. The position of the barrier is controlled by information concerning postal routes. The items are sorted into sharply defined groups that are transversely staggered with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Todd C. Werner
  • Patent number: 6648319
    Abstract: Sheet collation apparatus is disclosed in which an initial sheet (A1) from a sheet feeder (4) is advanced to a collation station (10), reversed into an accumulation station (8) and then returned to the collation station where it is collated with the next sheet (A2) from the sheet feeder. This process may be repeated any number of times to form a collation of sheets of any required number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Carl R. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20030173729
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing, stacking and thereafter collecting printed forms, includes: a dual registering stacking interface, that stacks and accumulates forms in a stack or in a continuing feeding as separate forms; and, a sequencer merger that receives the forms from the dual registering stacking interface and directs the forms in a selected order to an output end. The output end communicates with an accumulator that feeds the forms to a folder. The folder thereafter feeds the forms to a collector to be held until called for by a subsequent downstream device, such as a mail inserter device. The register, accumulator and collector are belt and/or roller driven devices, wherein the invention provides clutching assemblies for the transport belts and rollers in order to eliminate the streaking of the printed forms when idled forms are held stationary against the transport belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Douglas A. Keller
  • Publication number: 20030173728
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing, stacking and thereafter collecting printed forms, includes: a dual registering stacking interface, that stacks and accumulates forms in a stack or in a continuing feeding as separate forms; and, a sequencer merger that receives the forms from the dual registering stacking interface and directs the forms in a selected order to an output end. The output end communicates with an accumulator that feeds the forms to a folder. The folder thereafter feeds the forms to a collector to be held until called for by a subsequent downstream device, such as a mail inserter device. The register, accumulator and collector are belt and/or roller driven devices, wherein the invention provides clutching assemblies for the transport belts and rollers in order to eliminate the streaking of the printed forms when idled forms are held stationary against the transport belts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Douglas A. Keller
  • Publication number: 20030155699
    Abstract: A sheet finisher having a sheet placing member for placing and adjusting a predetermined number of sheets to which a predetermined processing is carried out thereon; a stapling member for stapling the predetermined number of adjusted sheets; and an air-blowing member arranged above the sheet placing member. The air-blowing member is operated to press each of the sheets against the sheet placing member by blowing air and adjust when each of the sheets to which the predetermined processing is carried out is placed on the sheet placing member, and stapling is performed to the sheets by the stapling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tamura, Hisao Hosoya, Hiroto Ito, Kazuyoshi Omi, Nobutaka Kato, Yuji Kanazawa, Hirohiko Okabe
  • Publication number: 20030146558
    Abstract: The apparatus has a feed conveyor (12) which is assigned an opening apparatus (18). Located at the downstream end of the feed conveyor (12) is the transfer region (16), through which the movement path (26) of clamps (24) runs. The clamp (24) has two clamp elements (30), which can be moved from an open position into a closed position (60′) for gripping and retaining an article (10). The clamp (24) is assigned a holding-open element (28) which, when the article (10) is gripped by means of the clamp (24), ends up between the two parts (22, 22′) of the article (10) lifted off from one another by means of the opening apparatus (18), and which is intended for holding the article (10) open when the clamp (24) is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Walter Reist, Willi Leu
  • Patent number: 6592114
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing, stacking and thereafter collecting printed forms, includes: a dual registering stacking interface, that stacks and accumulates forms in a stack or in a continuing feeding as separate forms; and, a sequencer merger that receives the forms from the dual registering stacking interface and directs the forms in a selected order to an output end. The output end communicates with an accumulator that feeds the forms to a folder. The folder thereafter feeds the forms to a collector to be held until called for by a subsequent downstream device, such as a mail inserter device. The register, accumulator and collector are belt and/or roller driven devices, wherein the invention provides clutching assemblies for the transport belts and rollers in order to eliminate the streaking of the printed forms when idled forms are held stationary against the transport belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Douglas A. Keller
  • Patent number: 6520496
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention, which serves for transporting supplementary products, in particular sheet-like printed products provided with adhesive, from a receiving location to a discharge location, has at least one retaining element which is moved along a continuous circulatory path and by means of which supplementary products can be gripped at the receiving location and released again at a discharge location. By means of a control arrangement, with changeover operation, during the transportation from the receiving location to the discharge location, the retaining element, which is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis which is located at least more or less perpendicularly to the circulatory path, is optionally left unchanged in a rotary position or rotated about the axis through a certain angle until an end position of the transported supplementary product which is envisaged for further processing has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Erwin Müller, Egon Hänsch
  • Publication number: 20030006543
    Abstract: A sheet-shaped medium treatment apparatus is disclosed. The sheet-shaped medium treatment apparatus has returning means 121. The sheet-shaped medium treatment apparatus is movable between a home position (I) and a press/return position (II).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Masahiro Tamura, Akihito Andoh, Shuuya Nagasako, Kazuya Tsutsui
  • Publication number: 20020158397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., wherein different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing by separation means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Kurt Wilfer, Alexander Steinkogler
  • Patent number: 6446953
    Abstract: A process for combining a plurality of completed printed products such as completed newspapers and/or periodicals, into bundles. At least two storage arrangements are provided, which are occupied by completed printed products of different types. The products are retrieved individually from the storage arrangements in a sequence which is necessary for forming bundles which are composed of a particular distribution of the products. The retrieved products are fed to a receiving conveyor, with certain products being positioned upstream of, or between, products which have already been fed to the receiving conveyor, and the products which follow one after the other in the region of the receiving conveyor are combined into the bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Markus Felix, Erwin Müller