With Movable Sheet-surface Support Patents (Class 271/213)
  • Patent number: 7303190
    Abstract: A recording apparatus including an automatic feeding mechanism for picking up one of recording media placed on a feed tray one by one and feeding the recording medium is provided. The automatic feeding mechanism includes: the feed tray on which a predetermined number of recording medium can be placed; a hopper for pushing the recording media on the feed tray toward a feed roller; and a separator located in a downstream of the hopper near the hopper. The automatic feeding mechanism picks up the recording media one by one in an order from an uppermost recording medium to a lowermost recording medium and feeds the recording medium thus picked to its downstream by an action of the feed roller and the hopper to sandwich and transfer the recording medium and a separating action of the separator. The automatic feeding mechanism can be rotated around a fulcrum of rotation so as to be foldable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, Yuji Miyamoto, Miwa Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7281791
    Abstract: A recording apparatus has a recording medium feeding mechanism for feeding a recording medium by one at a time, a recording head for performing recording, a discharging roller having a discharging driven roller and a discharge driving roller and a recording medium stacker capable of being changed to a first position in which recording is performed on a hard recording medium and a second position in which recording is performed on a recording medium fed by the recording medium feeding mechanism, wherein the discharging driven roller is in contact with the discharge driving roller in case the recording medium stacker is in second position, and the discharging driven roller is separated from a recording medium transfer path in case the recording medium stacker is in first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Anami, Takayuki Shiota, Mamoru Ukita, Narihiro Oki, Satoshi Nakata, Kazuo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7267338
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus ejects the sheet to witch image processing unit perform to an ejection tray or a staple stacker by a pair of ejection rollers and the like. A sheet path for guiding the sheet to the ejection rollers is opened and closed in conjunction with slide movement of the ejection tray when the ejection tray is attached to a main body of the apparatus, and the sheet path is opened and closed in conjunction with the slide movement of a staple stacker when the staple stacker is attached to the main body of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kuwata, Masanobu Kanoto, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Masao Amano, Kazuhide Kudo, Masayoshi Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 7258334
    Abstract: A paper tray mechanism that is applicable to machines with paper trays, such as printers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, all-in-one multifunction center and the like, comprises an input paper tray, an output paper tray, where both trays are movable and attached to the machine at sides, and an interconnecting mechanism therein between the two trays. When one paper tray is moved by the user, due to the interconnecting mechanism therein between, another paper tray will automatically move simultaneously. Therefore, this invention provides a paper mechanism that only needs one simple and easy step to have both paper trays unfolded/folded and unstashed/stashed so that some spaces are saved for other usage and machine is compact enough to be repacked into the original box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chung-Yi Cheng
  • Patent number: 7251451
    Abstract: While an output tray is housed in the printer body, a tray support supports the output tray in such a manner that has the output tray lifted off a surface on which the printer is placed. In the process of pulling out the output tray from the printer body, the tray support supports the output tray in such a manner that the rear end portion of the output tray gradually comes near to the surface on which the printer is placed, and guides the output tray so that a rib, which is formed on the front end portion of the output tray, and the rear end portion of the output tray are in contact with the surface on which the printer is placed when the output tray has been completely pulled out. The output tray is supported on the two portions, i.e., on the rib and rear end portion thereof, when it has been completely pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Takagi, Satoshi Kanaya
  • Patent number: 7226050
    Abstract: A sheet post-treating apparatus is provided with a discharged sheet stacking tray displaceably provided in a casing portion for stacking thereon sheets discharged from the casing portion, and a holding portion for holding the discharged sheet stacking tray in a first position and a second position overlying the first position, and is designed such that the sheets are stacked on the discharged sheet stacking tray when in the first position, and therefore, when the sheet post-treating apparatus is incorporated into a printer and a cartridge in the printer is to be interchanged with a cartridge cover opened, a user can retract the discharged sheet stacking tray to the second position to thereby interchange the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Takashi Kuwata, Atsushi Ogata, Kenichiro Isobe, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Hironobu Ata
  • Patent number: 7216865
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device of the present invention includes a conveying member for conveying a sheet, a switching mechanism for switching the direction of conveyance of the sheet being conveyed by the sheet conveying member, and a shifting mechanism for shifting the sheet passed through the switching mechanism and nipped by the conveying member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance. The switching mechanism and shifting mechanism share a single drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7178801
    Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating and delivering folded cardboard sheets includes at least a pair of stacking bases moveable along a loop including a stacking position for stacking the cardboard sheets on the stacking bases and a delivering position for delivering the pile of cardboard sheets on the stacking bases. The apparatus receives cardboard sheets fed one by one, accumulates them in a pile consisting of a predetermined number of cardboard sheets, and delivers the pile of sheets. When one of the stacking bases moves away from the stacking position, the other is moved into the stacking position so that the stacking bases alternatively move into the stacking position. Preferably, the loop has resting and ejecting positions and when one of the stacking bases moves from the ejecting to the stacking position, that stacking base ejects the pile of sheets previously formed on the other stacking base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Isowa
    Inventors: Hidenori Kokubo, Hiromi Watanabe, Jiro Minami
  • Patent number: 7165767
    Abstract: Dispenser modules include structure permitting their securement in stacked and aligned relation. The dispenser modules can contain sheet media such as notes and other items. The dispenser modules can be used in an automated banking machine operative to dispense multiple types of sheet media. Modules include a projection plate and a biasing latch arm on side walls thereof. The projection plate includes a pin adapted to be received in a side wall slot. A first module is locked to a second module through a first module latch preventing movement of a second module pin from a first module slot. Disassembly of the locked modules can occur with compressing of the latch to release the modules relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems a division of Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: H. Thomas Graef, Michael S. Johnson, Michael Harty, Jonathan M. Peritt, Ken Kontor
  • Patent number: 7156799
    Abstract: A paper folding machine is provided including a housing having upper and lower fold plates constructed for quick and easy removal of the upper plates from the machine so that repairs may be made. The machine includes an automatically adjustable stacking arm movable to positions corresponding to the settings of the machine for fold type and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Hedman Company
    Inventors: Richard Abramson, John Kosla
  • Patent number: 7125374
    Abstract: A paper folding machine is provided including a housing having upper and lower fold plates constructed for quick and easy removal of the upper plates from the machine so that repairs may be made. The machine includes an automatically adjustable stacking arm movable to positions corresponding to the settings of the machine for fold type and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Hedman Company
    Inventors: Richard Abramson, John Kosla
  • Patent number: 7121543
    Abstract: In a receiver for receiving a recording medium discharged from a recording apparatus, a pivotable receiving member receives the recording medium. A pivotable supporting member supports the receiving member so as to place one of a plurality of pivoting angles of the receiving member respectively associated with a plurality of using modes of the receiver. The receiver is provided in the leg section of the recording apparatus which is arranged below a discharging section from which the recording medium is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Fujioka
  • Patent number: 7104714
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 7080948
    Abstract: A paper ejecting mechanism and an ink-jet printer having the paper ejecting mechanism. The paper ejecting mechanism includes an ejecting roller and a star wheel which eject a sheet of paper printed by a printhead into an output tray, and a paper stand installed under the ejecting roller which supports the paper when the ejecting roller is rotated in an ejecting direction, and drops the paper into the output tray when the ejecting roller is rotated in a reverse direction to the ejecting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-wook Kang
  • Patent number: 7073787
    Abstract: A media handling device comprises a frame, a media tray, and a damper. The media tray is mountable to the frame for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position relative to the frame. The damper is disposed on the frame and configured for maintaining frictional engagement with the media tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Tod A. Kinsley, Jan W. Boldt, Michael K. Bowen, Robert G. Fritz
  • Patent number: 7070350
    Abstract: A multi-part output paper tray 14 including a plurality of tray plates 21 to 24 slidably arranged together in a paper eject direction is attached to a printer assembly 1 so that it can be extended/collapsed, the printer assembly 1 including a print head attached thereto for forming an image on recording paper 50. The extended/collapsed state of the output paper tray 14 is detected by an angle sensor 313. A print operation is not performed when it is detected by the angle sensor 313 that the output paper tray 14 is in the housed state, and a print operation is performed when the output paper tray 14 is in the extended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Inokuchi, Masaharu Tanaka, Hiroyuki Ogata, Kenji Kanabo, Yutaka Miyazono
  • Patent number: 7059599
    Abstract: Bank notes placed in a tray (13) are slid into an enclosure (10), whereupon a lever (15) is operated to drive down a plunger (17) which opens flaps (21,22) in the bottom of the tray to displace the notes into a carrier (12) in a lower part of the enclosure. The carrier (12) has snap-fitted into its top a frame (107) which also has flaps (21A,22A) which deflect downward as the money enters a bag (108) provided by elasticated material which spans the frame (107). Thereafter a cover plate (111) seals the frame (107) which can then be removed from the carrier (12) to be transported e.g. to a bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Volumatic Limited
    Inventor: Robert Anthony Wilbert Lewis
  • Patent number: 6997454
    Abstract: An on-edge stacker having a deck surface to support a vertical mail stack, which is allowed to expand from the upstream end to the downstream end. A paddle, movably mounted on a linear support member, is used to support the downstream end of the mail stack. The linear support member is positioned at a level lower than or substantially the same as the deck surface so that the mail can be swept from the deck surface from either longitudinal side of the stacker. A toggle switch is disposed near the downstream end so that when the paddle moved by the expanding stack reaches beyond a certain point, the toggle switch is triggered to indicate that the stack is full or almost full. The paddle has a wedge-shaped blade so that it can slide the stacked mailed on the deck surface without damaging the mail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Antonelli, Gary W. Comstock, Neil J. Kennedy, Kevin J. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 6990902
    Abstract: A displacement device for a machine for processing flat printing materials includes a slide displaceable along a displacement path in and counter to a thrust direction, and being divided along the thrust direction into two slide parts. A drag joint forms a mutual connection between the slide parts. The drag joint has a joint axis extending perpendicularly to the displacement path. A machine for processing flat printing materials, such as a sheet-processing rotary printing press, is provided with the displacement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Kelm, Udo Lautenklos
  • Patent number: 6988844
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6984085
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6978996
    Abstract: A machine for processing flat printing material, in particular a sheet processing rotary printing press, includes at least one processing station in the form of a printing unit, a feeder for loading the processing station with sheets of the printing material, a delivery for combining the processed sheets into piles, and an auxiliary pile carrier displaceable in an insertion direction from a standby position into an operational position and vice versa. Supporting members follow one another in the insertion direction and axially parallel swivel joints articulatingly connect the supporting members directly to one another. The supporting members have extensions projecting beyond the swivel joints thereof. One of the extensions directed counter to the insertion direction of a respective one of the supporting members engages underneath one of the extensions directed in the insertion direction of the respective supporting member after the next which trails in the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Strauss, Michael Bantlin, Wolfgang Dolz
  • Patent number: 6976800
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6971810
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6960038
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6957922
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6955487
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6953192
    Abstract: A paper delivery device in a printer selectively changes a stacking direction of printed and ejected paper and stacks paper. The device includes a first tray, and a second tray to pivot to a first position where paper is guided to the first tray and to a second position where the paper is stacked so that a side of an image of the paper is opposite to a side of an image of the first tray. The device also includes a first guide and a second guide to provide a side and the other side, respectively, of an ejecting route so that the paper is ejected to the first tray. The device includes a first roller and a second roller, each of the first and second rollers being installed in the first guide and second guide of the ejecting route. The device includes an ascending unit installed in the second tray to ascend the second roller so that the second roller is engaged with the first roller in the first position, and the second roller is placed under the second guide in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-hwan Jang
  • Patent number: 6945720
    Abstract: A printer includes a transporting block, a printing block, a positioning block, and an intermediate picking-up device. The positioning block is disposed between the transporting block and the printing block, and positions printing sheets transported by the transporting block at a predetermined location one at a time, so that they are positioned one at a time at a printing location of the printing block where printing is performed on the printing sheets. The intermediate picking-up means picks up the printing sheets positioned at the predetermined location in the positioning block one at a time in order to transport the printing sheets to the printing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Maekawa, Teruyasu Hanagami, Shogo Fujito, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6942206
    Abstract: An aligning device movable to a first position constituting a first sheet stacking portion for supporting a delivered sheet and a second position in which the sheet is not supported is provided downstream of a pair of delivery rollers, and the pair of delivery rollers are designed to be capable of assuming a first state in which they are capable of delivering the sheet, and a second state in which rollers constituting the pair of delivery rollers are spaced apart from each other. When the pair of delivery rollers are in the first state and the aligning device is in the first position, a sheet aligning and stacking portion for making the alignment of the sheet by the aligning device possible is defined by the first stacking portion and the sheet transport path between a reference wall and the pair of delivery rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kuwata, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Kenichiro Isobe, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 6926271
    Abstract: A flat mail edge biasing machine and method of use for separating stacks of bulk flats (products) into at least two separate stacks each with bound edges oriented in a same direction. The flat mail edge biasing machine has a feed head mechanism which is capable of detecting a bound or non-bound edge of the product, and sort the products based on the detection. The sorting includes moving the products from a center compartment to side compartments. In the side compartments, the products stacks with the bound edges oriented in a same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce H. Hanson, Wayne M. Blackwell
  • Patent number: 6848685
    Abstract: A printer of the present invention includes a first and a second tray each being movable between a full-closed position and an open position. When the operator moves the first tray in the opening direction, the first tray forces the second tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the opening direction, uncovering a first and a second opening at the same time. When the operator moves the second tray in the closing direction, the second tray forces the first tray located on the locus of movement of the first tray in the closing direction, covering the two openings at the same time. The operator can therefore move the two trays by a single action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Goro Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 6834852
    Abstract: A printer exit tray assembly attachable to a printer housing and a computer printer including a printed paper exit tray assembly. The exit tray assembly has an exit tray and a pair of sheet supports attached to the exit tray. The exit tray is movable between a use position and a collapsed position. The exit tray is positioned generally horizontally in the use position. The exit tray projects horizontally further from the printer housing in the use position than in the collapsed position. When the exit tray is in the use position the supports are pivotable, with respect to the exit tray, between a support position for supporting a printed sheet above the exit tray and a release position for releasing the printed sheet to the exit tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman Anthony Smith, Donald Norman Spitz
  • Patent number: 6827347
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing device that accommodates various types of paper sheet performs a smooth accommodating action by accurately performing a full-state detection action in respect of the accommodated paper sheets. Full-state detecting unit 2 of the paper sheet container (paper money container) stores current values exceeding a reference value as detection signals a, b, c and, of the stored detection signals a, b, c, determines that the stacker 42 constituting a paper sheet accommodating section is full based on the detection signal c stored in the substantially latter half period K′ of the paper sheet accommodating action period T′ by the paper money guiding unit 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Yukio Ito, Yuichi Sakamoto, Tadahiro Iwai, Tetsuro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6824129
    Abstract: A printer, copier, facsimile machine or any other device for printing indicia on sheets of paper or other printable sheet materials. The device includes a paper input tray which is arranged to be oriented in a generally vertical direction irrespective of whether the device is in a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation. The device also includes an output tray arranged to receive the paper or other printed sheet material exiting from the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: William R. Sides, II
  • Patent number: 6817607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking device for flat postal items standing on edge. The stacking device comprises guide means for guiding the postal items supplied to it to a stacking position on a stacking base against a support wall on which the postal items are slowed down. Of course the present invention may apply to other types of articles as well. The stacking device is further provided with a stacker plate that can be displaced in the direction of stacking along a linear guide. The stacker plate cooperates with a spring element to produce a pressure force that is approximately constant across the zone of displacement and that is directed against the forming stack. The movable part of a damper element is fastened on the movable part of the spring element, said damper element being only active when a displacement directed away from the stacking position is exerted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Gasch
  • Patent number: 6810231
    Abstract: A sheet transfer apparatus transfers a sheet to a predetermined position. The apparatus includes a discharge tray; a support device for rotationally supporting the discharge tray; an interconnecting device that activates according to a rotation of the discharge tray; and a sheet regulating device engaging the interconnecting means to be movable between a regulating position for regulating a movement of the sheet and a retracted position for allowing the sheets on the discharge tray to move. A control device prevents the sheet regulating device from moving to the regulating position from the retracted position even though the discharge tray is rotated when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the sheet regulating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Atsumi Kobayashi, Kunihide Suzuki, Yutaka Tanaka, Akiharu Higaki, Akihiko Tsukui, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Patent number: 6776404
    Abstract: A finishing device having a sheet guiding and buffering mechanism located in the space between a sheet transporting assembly and a finishing platform. The mechanism has two parallel retractable arms having a slight curvature along their length. Sheets dispensed seriatim from the transport assembly onto the arms conform to the curvature of the arms. In a normal mode, the arms are retracted for each sheet delivered thereto and the individual sheets drop onto platform to form a set of stacked sheets. When the last sheet of a set is dropped, the mechanism changes to a buffering mode and the arms collect and hold the first few sheets of the next set. Once the previous set has been finished and ejected from the platform, the arms are retracted and the sheets collected are dropped, and the mechanism is changed to the normal cycle for the remainder of the subsequent set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Milillo, Charles F. Prevost
  • Publication number: 20040139694
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing stacks of flat objects, such as printed products 28, wherein the printed products are fed to a preliminary stacking compartment 20, into which opens the outlet 32 of an arrangement 12 for feeding additional sheets 14. Located beneath the preliminary stacking compartment is a final compartment 36, which can be rotated through 180° about a vertical axis of rotation 38 in order to be able to receive from the preliminary stacking compartment 20 sub-stacks 34 which have been rotated in relation to one another. Each sub-stack 34 may be formed on an additional sheet 14 in the preliminary stacking means 18, as a result of which, in the complete stack 54, the sub-stacks 34, each forming a layer, are separated from one another by an additional sheet 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Ferag AG
    Inventors: H. Ulrich Stauber, Werner Honegger
  • Patent number: 6755128
    Abstract: A “spider” device for collecting and conveying signatures produced on rotary print machines. The inventive device is adapted to be moved outside the production line without stopping operation of the production line. The device is equipped with a hinging mechanism adapted to connect it to a vertical riser of the production line for rotating it around at least one vertical axis with respect to the ground. The inventive device is further equipped with a hooking/unhooking mechanism used to allow repositioning the device in the same operating position in the production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Officine Meccaniche Giovanni Cerutti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Pane
  • Patent number: 6749194
    Abstract: A mail handling system that imports data from a thickness measurement device regarding the thickness of a substantially flat mail article, counts the number of flat articles deposited on the top surface of the drop pocket, instructs the drop pocket to open to drop a unitary body of flat mail articles when the total stack thickness and/or number of articles exceeds threshold limits. A computer, operably connected to conventional conveyor system having, a drop pocket, a thickness measurement device, and a conveyor, implements the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce H. Hanson, Michael D. Senger, Bruce A. Williams
  • Patent number: 6742949
    Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus of a printer has a tray on which printed paper is consecutively stacked, holders for supporting the printed paper above the tray, a rack reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction “A” by the driving of a motor, and levers connecting the holders with the rack and pivoting in association with a movement of the rack. The holders horizontally move above the tray in association with a reciprocal movement of the rack, thereby supporting printing media of various widths above the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Karp-Sik Youn
  • Patent number: 6735414
    Abstract: A paper ejection unit included in a print apparatus for stacking printed paper to provide a print apparatus for making it possible to provide compatibility between large-capacity stacking of short-size paper frequently used and easiness of handling printed paper of large size. Attention is focused on the fact that the weight of paper that can be handled safely is determined by the paper stack height for each paper size, and it is made possible to change the paper stackable amount for each paper size by a paper stack table moved down gradually with an increase in the stack amount of printed paper and a paper stack table height detector for detecting the position of the paper stack table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shiraishi, Yasushi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6729616
    Abstract: An interlocked type paper collection support board of printer includes a paper-out board, an extension board, and a half stroke mechanism. The paper-out board is retractably installed on a main body of a printer. The extension board is also retractably installed on the paper-out board. The half stroke mechanism is installed between the main body of the printer, the paper-out board, and the extension board. Through interlocked motion of the half stroke mechanism, the paper-out board is simultaneously driven when a user draws the extension board. The paper-out board can thus be simultaneously positioned with the extension board with half the speed and displacement of the extension board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Biing-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 6722650
    Abstract: A paper sheet finishing system includes a sheet guiding mechanism having nip rollers to transport a sheet forward, at least one diverter gate through which the sheet passes when the at least one diverter gate is open, and a temporary compiler to support the sheet after the sheet passes the at least one diverter gate, a diverter member to travel in conjunction with the at least one diverter gate, and at least one rear suppressor member connected to the diverter member to push a trailing edge of the sheet forward and pitch a leading edge of the sheet downward after the sheet controllably descends past the temporary compiler with reduced flutter and improved positioning during compilation of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Salvatore A. Abbata, Richard J. Milillo, Terrance W. Flint
  • Patent number: 6714326
    Abstract: A conventional type of an image processing apparatus having the functions both a facsimile and a printer needs certain space around the apparatus since parts like trays are protruded from the apparatus. Furthermore, in that kind of apparatus, since there are unnecessary keypads in equipped keypads on operation panels, the unnecessary keypads bring bad appearance of the apparatus. The present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus or processing apparatus that allows parts like a document output tray to be accommodated compactly, not obstructive but good appearance in terms of design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakatsu Yamada
  • Patent number: 6705603
    Abstract: A binding apparatus has a switching flapper 15 switching a feed path for feeding papers to either an upper discharge port or a lower discharge port, a discharge roller 20 provided on the upper discharge port, and a shutter 13, a stapler 14 and a discharge roller 12 provided on the lower discharge port. The discharge roller 12 can feed the papers in a direction opposite to a general paper feed direction, and the shutter 13 stops the papers on a specified position and positions the same when the papers are fed in the opposite direction. The stapler 14 staples the positioned papers. The discharge roller 12 presses the papers against the shutter 13, registers the papers, and discharges the papers in the general paper feed direction after the papers are stapled. Consequently, a miniature paper binding apparatus having a simple structure can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kirino, Takeshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6688083
    Abstract: This invention provides a mechanism for receiving flat articles, such as mail, moving in a travel path with a substantially horizontal orientation and for dropping selected such articles into either a single receptacle positioned below the mechanism or into a plurality of receptacles spaced along the length of the travel path, while maintaining the substantially horizontal article orientation for all such articles. The mechanism includes a holding station for each receptacle into which each article to be dropped is initially deposited, the holding station being just below the travel path, a retractable floor for the holding station and a driver selectively operable for rapidly retracting the floor in a substantially horizontal direction to permit articles accumulated in the holding station to drop substantially vertically into the corresponding receptacle. The driver may be activated in response to the holding station being filled by a selected amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Fitzgibbons, Douglas A. Slocum, Louis B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6682068
    Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented and identified. The documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98). When a user subsequently requests a dispense, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output device (50) of the machine. Sheets are oriented in the central transport by a deskewing/centering device (84). The deskewing/centering device includes a shuttle (204). The shuttle includes transversely disposed pinch wheels (212, 214) and sensors (216, 218, 220). The rotation of the pinch wheels is selectively controlled to orient the leading edges of sheets to extend transversely relative to the sheet path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: Sean Haney, H. Thomas Graef, William D. Beskitt, Damon J. Blackford, Bill Schadt
  • Patent number: 6663102
    Abstract: A configuration controls the height and the inclination of a stacking tray according to the number of sheets discharged and controls the height and the inclination of a stacking tray when discharging sheets and when discharging sheet bundles to improve alignment of discharged sheets and the transporting characteristics. When discharging a sheet bundle, a stacking tray is lowered and when it reaches its home position, the aforementioned stacking tray is stopped. When discharging a sheet, the system determines whether it is the first sheet of a plurality of sheets in a bundle. For the first sheet, a timer is set to a predetermined time from raising to stopping the aforementioned stacking tray (using a pulse count value) and the aforementioned stacking tray is raised. After the set time is up, the stacking tray is stopped at a preset position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Takahashi, Shinya Sasamoto