Endless Conveyors To Other Conveyors Patents (Class 271/69)
  • Patent number: 11912451
    Abstract: A bag supply method includes the steps of: causing an arrangement device to arrange a bag at a pickup position; delivering the bag from the pickup position to a support device via a bag pickup device; moving the bag along with the support device in a traveling direction along a movement path including a detection position; determining arrival of the bag at the detection position; stopping the bag along with the support device on the movement path according to a timing when the bag arrives at the detection position; and delivering the bag stopped in the movement path, from the support device to a bag receiving device via a bag holding conveyance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kakue Nakamoto, Kazuo Fukunaga, Manabu Morino
  • Patent number: 9653005
    Abstract: An erasable loop scheduler with a board and a loop system is disclosed. The board has a first and second side, each having a viewing pane that displays a different portion of the loop system. The loop system includes a grid system that can be configured like a calendar. A user can write out a full month of dates and appointments on the first side of the board and another full month of dates and appointments on the second side of the board. Once a row of events has passed, the loop system can be advanced, at which point the row of past events moves to the second side of the board. The user may then erase that row of events and replace with upcoming dates and appointments. Alternatively, the user may keep the row of events for future reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Richard J. Hogan
  • Patent number: 9190307
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a solar wafer or cell is disclosed, which comprises: i) a rotary motor; ii) a gripper for holding the solar wafer or cell; and a rotary arm connected between the rotary motor and the gripper, the rotary arm being drivable by the rotary motor in a first rotary direction through a transfer angle for transferring the solar wafer or cell between different positions. In particular, the apparatus further comprises an angle-compensating device configured to drive the gripper through a same transfer angle as the rotary arm in a second rotary direction opposite to the first rotary direction, to ensure that an angular orientation of the solar wafer or cell remains constant during rotation of the rotary arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ASM TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE LTD
    Inventors: Lian Hok Tan, Wen Ge Tu
  • Patent number: 9056726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for grouping (flat) articles (10), in particular hygiene products such as diapers, wherein the articles (10) to be grouped are conveyable individually and one after another on a feed conveyor (19) and are suppliable to a grouping conveyor (12). The invention is characterized in that the grouping conveyor (12) has compartments (13) for in each case one group (11) of articles (10), in which compartments the articles (10) are arranged preferably standing upright, in particular tightly packed together, wherein the articles (10) are suppliable by means of the feed conveyor (19) at an angle, in particular substantially transversely, with respect to the conveying direction of the grouping conveyor (12) and are conveyable in the conveying direction of the grouping conveyor (12) by way of a substantially cone-shaped conveyor (24) thus forming a group (11) of articles (10) in one compartment (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Josef Schulte, Andreas Prahm, Björn Brandhorst
  • Patent number: 9022383
    Abstract: A paper sheet stacking and recycling device (5) and a paper sheet processing apparatus having same. The device comprises: a paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism (51), located in front of a paper sheet discharging port and used for conveying the discharged paper sheets to a preset position one by one and stacking; a paper sheet discharging mechanism, located at the front end of the paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism and used for discharging the stacked paper sheets in stack; and a paper sheet recycling mechanism (52), located at the front end of a paper sheet storage container (23) and used for recycling the stacked paper sheets in stack. A paper sheet processing apparatus having the foregoing device is capable of avoiding secondary separation of single paper sheets and more deflection after the paper sheets pass through a device for tilt correction and the like, so as to reduce the occurrence probability of faults such as blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaohai Huang, Dongbo Liu
  • Patent number: 8894064
    Abstract: An accessory receives sheets from an inkjet printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Eric Munro Innes
  • Patent number: 8840104
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus for winding a sheet around a rotator, pulling the sheet wound around the rotator, and sending out the sheet includes a guiding unit that guides a sheet side end pulled from the rotator. The guiding unit forms a slack in the outer periphery of the sheet wound around the rotator, and guides the side end of the sheet sent from the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Fujikake
  • Publication number: 20140175733
    Abstract: A paper sheet stacking and recycling device (5) and a paper sheet processing apparatus having same. The device comprises: a paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism (51), located in front of a paper sheet discharging port and used for conveying the discharged paper sheets to a preset position one by one and stacking; a paper sheet discharging mechanism, located at the front end of the paper sheet conveying and stacking mechanism and used for discharging the stacked paper sheets in stack; and a paper sheet recycling mechanism (52), located at the front end of a paper sheet storage container (23) and used for recycling the stacked paper sheets in stack. A paper sheet processing apparatus having the foregoing device is capable of avoiding secondary separation of single paper sheets and more deflection after the paper sheets pass through a device for tilt correction and the like, so as to reduce the occurrence probability of faults such as blocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaohai Huang, Dongbo Liu
  • Patent number: 8613445
    Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a gear train and a movable gear locking device. The gear train transmits rotational drive to a drive target, and includes a first gear train forming a first transmission path for transmitting the drive to the target, a second gear train forming a second transmission path for transmitting the drive to the target as drive opposite in rotation direction to the drive transmitted by the first gear train, and a movable gear movable between a first drive transmission position whereat the movable gear forms a part of the first gear train to transmit the drive to the target and a second drive transmission position whereat the movable gear forms a part of the second gear train to transmit the drive to the target. The movable gear locking device locks the movable gear at an idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikane Nishii, Haruyuki Honda, Mitsutaka Nakamura, Hirofumi Horita
  • Patent number: 8579275
    Abstract: A duplex document feeding device includes a first paper transfer channel, a second paper transfer channel, a paper exit, a power source, a paper pick-up mechanism, a paper ejecting mechanism, and a linking mechanism. The paper ejecting mechanism includes an ejecting drive roller and an ejecting idler roller. After a paper is ejected from the first paper transfer channel and the paper is introduced into the second paper transfer channel by the paper ejecting mechanism, the linking mechanism is driven by the power source, so that the ejecting idler roller is shifted and moved away from the ejecting drive roller. Consequently, the front end of the paper can be smoothly ejected from the paper exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Shang-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 8500121
    Abstract: In a sheet downstacker of a corrugator dry end, sheets are delivered by a drive system driving both the bottom and top nip rolls with a single motor that also drives the last flat belt sheet conveyor to the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Marquip, LLC
    Inventors: Richard F. Paulson, James M. Krog
  • Patent number: 8490967
    Abstract: To provide a medium storing and advancing apparatus which orderly piles up bills even when not flat. The medium storing and advancing apparatus includes a tongue piece roller having tongue pieces having the length thereof predetermined. While the tongue piece roller is rotated to slap the rear end of a bill with the tongue pieces to orient the latter downward, the front end of a following bill is superimposed on the downward-oriented rear end of the preceding bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takada, Masayuki Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20130161895
    Abstract: A paper sheet material receiving and stacking system includes a conveying unit including a feed table for receiving pieces of paper sheet material cut out of a continuous web, a receiving and adjustment unit including a carrier frame pivotally connected to the conveyor unit for transferring the received pieces of paper sheet material and a driving device for biasing the carrier frame between a horizontal position and an inclined position and an adjustment mechanism for controlling the gap of a sheet-transfer passage, and a stacking unit including a platform adapted for receiving pieces of paper sheet material passing through the sheet-transfer passage and a transmission mechanism controllable to move the platform horizontally forward, backward, leftward and rightward and vertically up and down and a sliding limiter for stopping pieces of paper sheet material on the platform in a stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: Tzu-Che LIN
  • Patent number: 8376348
    Abstract: A device and method for transferring flexible flat objects, in particular printed products, between two conveyors. The device includes a first gripper conveyor with first grippers moved along a first gripper conveyor path for hanging transport of the objects in a conveyor direction by gripping a first object edge, a second gripper conveyor with second grippers moved along a second gripper conveyor path, for receiving the objects by gripping a second object edge which lies opposite the first object edge, and at least one actuation device for opening and closing the first and second grippers such that, in a transfer region, the objects may be transferred from the first grippers to the second grippers. The distances of the first and the second grippers are different to one another in front of the transfer region, wherein the distances of the first grippers are smaller than that of the second grippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Alex Keller
  • Patent number: 8322719
    Abstract: A system for conveying sheets of corrugated paperboard material or other materials. The system includes a processing module configured for transferring the material in a conveying direction, the processing module having a first nip point. A conveyor is positioned downstream of the processing module and also configured for transferring the material in the conveying direction. The conveyor includes a first support roller and second support roller having a first conveyor belt wound therearound, with the belt defining a deflector section extending from the first support roller to the second support roller. Similar to the processing module, the conveyor includes a second nip point. An adjustment drive can be operatively associated with either or both of the first and second support rollers and configured to adjust the position of the second nip point in or counter to the delivery direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: J&L Group International, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Roth
  • Patent number: 8267398
    Abstract: To provide a medium storing and advancing apparatus which orderly piles up bills even when not flat. The medium storing and advancing apparatus includes a tongue piece roller having tongue pieces having the length thereof predetermined. While the tongue piece roller is rotated to slap the rear end of a bill with the tongue pieces to orient the latter downward, the front end of a following bill is superimposed on the downward-oriented rear end of the preceding bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takada, Masayuki Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8181768
    Abstract: A mailpiece inserter includes a feed conveyor adapted to feed a shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes along a feed path to an insert module and a chassis module adapted to produce content material for insertion into the mailpiece envelopes processed by the insert module. An envelope position detector is operative to sense a discontinuity in the shingled stack and issues a first position signal indicative thereof, and an input conveyor module is adapted to convey mailpiece envelopes into shingled engagement with an aft end of the shingled stack of mailpiece envelopes on the feed conveyor. The input conveyor module has an input end proximal to a single workstation of the chassis module which enables an operator to (i) feed mailpiece envelopes to the input module and (ii) supply content material to the chassis module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: W. Scott Kalm
  • Patent number: 8181959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the processing of print products. The method may include conveying individually the print products with a feeding device along a feeding section, transferring individually the print products from the feeding section to a further processing section, and generating control signals from a control unit. The control signals may correspond to further treatment of each individual print product and to the transfer of a print product to the further processing section such that it can be processed further. The apparatus may include a feeding device configured to convey the print products individually along a feeding section, a transfer device configured to individually transfer the print products from the feeding device to a further processing device, and a control unit configured to generate control signals to control the transfer of the print products from the feeding device to the further processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Michael Bichsel, Simon Von Arb
  • Patent number: 8113498
    Abstract: A method and device for transferring signatures. The device includes a first gathering chain which conveys the signatures with the aid of pushers and which transfers the signatures in a transfer region to a second gathering chain. The second gathering chain includes at least one conveying chain provided with pushers that are arranged at a pre-defined distance relative to each other. The second gathering chain includes recesses adjacent to each of its pushers such that each pusher of the first gathering chain corresponds to a pusher of the second gathering chain and can be lowered through a respective recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Marcel Buerge
  • Patent number: 8083226
    Abstract: A sheet guiding apparatus, including: a supporting member having a supporting surface which supports a sheet; a first electrode provided in the supporting member; an electric field generating portion configured to generate an electric field between the supporting surface and the first electrode; a guide member which is distant from the supporting surface by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface; a moving portion configured to move the sheet supported by the supporting surface by moving at least one of the supporting member and the guide member relatively to each other in a direction parallel to the supporting surface; and an electric field inverting portion configured to invert a direction of the electric field generated by the electric field generating portion, when a leading end portion of the sheet in a direction in which the sheet is moved has reached a vicinity of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 8011656
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which does not need height adjustment of the main body and the sheet post-processing device at the time of attaching the sheet post-processing device to the main body and which can prevent jam from occurring while securing the conveying force to convey paper sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Morita
  • Patent number: 7934721
    Abstract: An equipment for transferring sheets with change of direction for sheets entering along a first direction comprises output rollers to move the sheets along a second direction, right-angled with respect to the first direction, and members of engagement and movement, actuatable for engaging and moving the sheets entering along the first direction along the second direction up to the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement provide a condition of reception in which define a space of reception for the entering sheets and a condition of engagement and movement in which engage the entered sheets and move the sheets for the engagement with the output rollers. The members of engagement and movement return to the condition of reception upon the engagement of the entered sheet with the output rollers for enabling a following sheet—to enter and to be moved along the first direction jointly with the movement of the previous entered sheet along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: TECNAU s.r.l.
    Inventors: Giuliano De Marco, Alberto Massucco, Francesco Terrusi, Armando Aprato
  • Patent number: 7909325
    Abstract: A sheet delivery has an endless conveyor for conveying printed sheets, and a secondary gripper with a gripper bar that receives the printed sheets from the conveyor at their trailing edges and deposits them on a delivery stack. A transmission generates an annular circulatory movement of the gripper bar. The endless conveyor has lower forward strands, running toward the delivery stack, and upper return strands, running away from the delivery stack. The transmission has a first control-cam pair on one side of the endless conveyor and a second control-cam pair on the other side of the endless conveyor and the two control-cam pairs are connected to one another via a common shaft. The shaft is disposed above the return strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Stefan Mutschall
  • Patent number: 7905481
    Abstract: A method for feeding a shingled stack of sheet material to a downstream processing device includes the step of identifying a discontinuity in the shingled stack of sheet material wherein the discontinuity has a length dimension from an aft end of a downstream portion of the shingled sheet material to a forward end of an upstream portion of the shingled sheet material. In a next step, the motion of first and second serially arranged conveyors are controlled such that the length dimension of the discontinuity is substantially equal to a prescribed gap of known length dimension. The first conveyor supports the upstream portion of the shingled sheet material and the second conveyor supports the downstream portion of the shingled sheet material. The deck of the first is advanced over the deck of the second conveyor toward the aft end of the downstream portion by the length dimension of the prescribed gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: W. Scott Kalm
  • Patent number: 7887040
    Abstract: A sheet deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: J & L Group International, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis A. Roth
  • Patent number: 7857299
    Abstract: Folded inserts (B) are added to folded or bound printed products (P) which, held individually by transfer grippers (6), are conveyed in an essentially continuous fashion, in that the inserts are placed on the folded or rear edges of the printed products in a manner whereby their fold (8) is aligned with the folded or rear edge of the latter. If necessary, the inserts (B) are attached by gluing or stapling to the folded or rear edges of the printed products (P). For adding small inserts the printed products (P) can be conveyed with their folded or rear edges held by the transfer grippers (6) of a printed product conveyor (1) and the insert (B) can be placed next to the gripper (6). If the inserts are larger (B), an auxiliary conveyor takes over the printed products for the placement of the inserts. Such placement of inserts (B) into printed products (P) is simple and can, in particular, be implemented with conventional device components and easily integrated into existing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Heinz Möckli
  • Patent number: 7784784
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring printed products conveyed in a shingled flow in a conveying direction by a conveyor to a transporter positioned above the conveyor. The shingled flow is conveyed with circulating clamps. Each printed product respectively projects with a leading end over a front end of a following printed product in the conveying direction and the circulating clamps respectively clamp the leading end of the printed products. Each printed product is lifted from below along one side of the shingled flow in a transfer region formed by the shingled flow and the above-positioned transporter. After the printed products are is lifted up, a trailing end of each printed product is gripped by a clamp of the transporter and then the printed products are further transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Rolf Meyerhans, Ueli Mattmann
  • Patent number: 7753357
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a conveyor support, a main conveyor connected to the conveyor support and having a discharge end movable between a lowered position and a raised position, a transfer conveyor having a intake end roller support holding the intake end roller in a fixed relationship with respect to the conveyor support and a discharge end roller connected to a main conveyor intake end roller, at least one idler roller, and at least one belt supported by the transfer conveyor intake end roller and the transfer conveyor discharge end roller and passing over the at least one idler roller, the main conveyor discharge end being movable between a lowered position and a raised position, and wherein the transfer conveyor discharge end roller is shifted away from the transfer conveyor intake end roller by the main conveyor discharge end moving from the lowered position to the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: A.G. Stacker Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Allen, Jr., Michael Lippy
  • Patent number: 7748428
    Abstract: A device for placing suspended labels including a multiple-page information section onto a bottleneck. The device includes a bottle conveying device for conveying bottles into a work area, and an application device having a pair of essentially parallel cantilevers which define a horizontal distance therebetween and end in the work area. Each cantilever includes a supply unit for grasping one side of the suspended label and for supplying the suspended label, wherein the cantilevers define an open intermediate space therebetween and are arranged such that a bottle reaching the work area extends with its neck into the intermediate space. A stop is provided in the area of the supply units for straightening the information portion of the suspended label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pfankuch Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Karl Pfankuch, Gennadi Ruhl
  • Patent number: 7744086
    Abstract: During the transport of flat products, in particular folded products which are transferred at the end of a transport path to an assembly which forwards them, a great degree of freedom from faults can be attained by the fact that, in the case of lower transport speeds, the products are accelerated during the transfer by air which passes along them at a higher speed in the transport direction than the transport speed. In the case of higher transport speeds, the products are expediently braked during the transfer by reducing the pressure in the gap between one of their surfaces and an adjacent guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Siegmund Echerer, Hubert Schalk, Christian Winterholler
  • Patent number: 7744079
    Abstract: A transport track extends through first and second stations for transporting paper postal items through the stations. The first and second stations are equipped with first and second drives for driving circulatable surfaces of the respective station along the transport track. The second drive is controlled for driving at least one of the second station's circulatable surfaces at a circumferential speed higher than the circumferential speed of the first station's circulatable surfaces. While a stack of postal items passes from the first station to the second station, highest normal force exerted thereon by the circulatable surfaces of the second station is larger or smaller than the highest normal force exerted thereon by the circulatable surfaces of the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: NEOPOST Technologies
    Inventors: Sjoerd Van Netten, Jaap Kramer
  • Patent number: 7735820
    Abstract: A sheet delivery apparatus includes sprockets and delivery grippers, a sheet delivery device, a switching cam, and conveyor belt, driving roller, and driven roller. The sprockets and delivery grippers hold and convey a sheet. The sheet delivery device delivers the sheet conveyed by the sprockets and delivery grippers. The switching cam is arranged upstream of the sheet delivery device in a sheet convey direction to release the sheet held by the sprockets and delivery grippers. The conveyor belt, driving roller, and driven roller are arranged below the switching cam to convey the sheet released by the switching cam in the sheet convey direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Reiji Ito
  • Patent number: 7726651
    Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting sheets from a sheet transport path onto an auxiliary stack disposed upstream of a main stack, includes a planar sheet guide surface having a sheet ejection opening formed therein. The sheet ejection opening is closed by a sheet separating element and a flap, in a closed state. The separating element and the flap also serve as guide elements during the ejection of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Böttger, Andreas Detmers, Peter Förch, Edmund Klein, Oliver Lang, Sven Lippardt, Markus Möhringer, Patrick Roth
  • Patent number: 7708277
    Abstract: A sheet delivery includes an endless conveyor for conveying printed sheets, and also comprises a secondary gripper with a gripper bar by way of which the printed sheets are received from the conveyor at their trailing edges and deposited on a delivery stack. A coupler transmission generates an annular circulatory movement of the gripper bar. The coupler transmission has criss-crossing oscillating cranks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Möhringer, Stefan Mutschall
  • Patent number: 7631863
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine, in particular a rotary press, has a first gripper system for transporting sheets onto a sheet stack and a second gripper system following the former for accepting selected sheets from the first gripper system. The second gripper system is oriented substantially vertically and it has a drive that can be actuated separately and independently from the first gripper system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Förch, Markus Möhringer, Paul Nicola
  • Patent number: 7591466
    Abstract: A device for transferring print products comprises a circulating conveying element that includes clamps. A conveyor moves approximately in the same direction and synchronously below the conveying element, which includes grippers. A guide arrangement is provided in a transfer segment where the print products are transferred from the circulating conveying element to the conveyor. The guide arrangement includes spiral rotors having spiral sections respectively extending from opposite sides into spaces between the print products and which are effective in the conveying direction to stably position the print products. Activation devices operatively are arranged to open the clamps and close the grippers to effect the transfer of the print products from one of the clamps on the circulating conveying element to one of the grippers on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Rudolf Kyburz
  • Patent number: 7581370
    Abstract: A bag-making and packaging machine, in which a horizontal bag-making machine and a packaging machine are provided, including a positioning conveyor for positioning bags fed out from the horizontal bag-making machine, a feed conveyor for feeding the bags to the packaging machine, and first, second, and third transport mechanisms provided between the positioning conveyor and the feed conveyor. The first transport mechanism lifts up the bags up and change their attitude to a vertical attitude with the bag mouths oriented upward. The second transport mechanism receives the bags from the first transport mechanisms, transports them, and rotates the bags to orient bag surfaces in the feed direction of the feed conveyor. The third transport mechanisms receives the bags from the second transport mechanisms, changes their attitude to a horizontal attitude, and places them on the feed conveyor with the bag mouths oriented in the feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoichi Koga
  • Patent number: 7578502
    Abstract: A sheet delivery for a press has a linear guide in which a single holding crossmember (e.g., a gripper bar) is mounted such that it can be moved to and fro periodically. The holding crossmember is mounted in a further linear guide such that it can be moved to and fro periodically along the further linear guide axis as well. The axes of the linear guides are aligned at an angle to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Förch, Markus Möhringer, Stefan Mutschall, Paul Nicola, Marius Stelter
  • Patent number: 7562871
    Abstract: A sheet supply system, for use in supplying overlapped sheets to an interfolder, includes a bed roll on which a web is cut into successive sheets. The sheets are supplied to a sheet supply passage leading to retard rolls, which overlap the sheets within the supply passage. The trailing portion of each downstream sheet bulges outwardly as the sheet is supplied to the supply passage. An air tube directs pressurized air into a volume within which the bulge in the downstream sheet is formed. The pressurized air prevents the leading portion of the upstream sheet from being drawn outwardly along with the trailing area of the downstream sheet, by counteracting a vacuum that results from outward movement of the trailing portion of the downstream sheet after it is released from the bed roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrew L. Haasl, David J. Stubenvoll
  • Patent number: 7448616
    Abstract: A method for positioning a second flat item atop a flat first item includes the steps of: providing a first conveyor for transporting the first item and rotatably mounting a hard nip roller on an axle so that the hard nip roller engages the first conveyor. A second conveyor for transporting the second item is disposed at an angle relative to the first conveyor and a discharge end of the second conveyor meets the first conveyor at the hard nip roller. First and second soft nip rollers are mounted on the axle on opposite sides of the hard nip roller and are spaced apart from one another by a distance less than a width of the second item. The hard nip roller and the first and second soft nip rollers simultaneously engage the second item and separate it from the second conveyor, depositing the second item onto the first item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Todd C. Werner
  • Patent number: 7448625
    Abstract: Sheets are conveyed through a printing machine with improved reliability of the suction grippers. The apparatus for conveying a sheet through a printing machine has a cylinder with grippers in a channel for holding the sheet at its leading edge, circulating grippers for holding and for transferring the sheet from the cylinder at its leading edge, and circulating, radially positionable suction grippers for holding the sheet at its trailing edge. An actuating apparatus opens and closes the grippers and controls vacuum for the suction grippers. A drive for the cylinder and circulating grippers and suction grippers. A control device switches on and off the sheet feed to the cylinder. The suction grippers can be moved in the radial direction into a rest position when the sheet feed is switched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Förch, Daniel Gronych, Markus Möhringer, Paul Nicola, Marius Stelter, Ralf Wadlinger
  • Patent number: 7431280
    Abstract: Groups are formed from flat articles being supplied in a plurality of supply streams by combining the supply streams to form a group stream, and by separating article groups from the head end of the group stream through clamping and accelerating aligned leading article edge zones. The supply streams are superimposed in at least one combining point, wherein in all streams to be combined and in all superimposed streams the articles are arranged parallel in a direction transverse to the conveying direction, have the same article spacings, and are conveyed at the same speed. Projections of the streams to be combined and of the superimposed streams on a plane parallel to the parallel alignment of the articles run parallel to one another or coincide. Projections of the streams to be combined on a plane transverse to the parallel alignment of the articles run together at an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Hans Stauber, Martin Keller
  • Patent number: 7383016
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging device comprises generally, an image transfer station configured to transfer a toned image to a substrate, a fuser assembly configured to fuse the toned image to the substrate and a transport device configured to transfer the substrate from the image transfer station to the fuser assembly. The device further includes a controller for controlling a first process rate of the image transfer device and a second process rate of the transport device. The controller has a mode of operation wherein the first process rate is different from the second process rate when a hand off is performed to pass the substrate from the image transfer station to the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian J. Lee, Peter B. Pickett, David A. Schneider, John P. Spicer
  • Patent number: 7364155
    Abstract: In a standby state wherein a document is set in a document tray and can be supplied when needed, when a start signal is not inputted (S21: NO), a controller determines whether a document regulating plate has been operated or not based on a detection output of a document size detector for detecting a position of the document regulating plate (S31), and when the document regulating plate was operated (S31: YES), the controller lowers the document tray by a predetermined amount and stops it (S32). A lowered amount of the document tray can be arbitrarily set by a user through an operator control panel. With a sheet feeding apparatus, an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus constituted as described above, even in a state in which the document is set in the document tray, the set state can be easily canceled by operating the document regulating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagao, Takashi Nishida, Kazuo Nakamura, Sohichi Takata
  • Patent number: 7316394
    Abstract: In a sheet feeder for a sheet processing machine, such as a sheet-fed rotary printing press, and initial torque spike when the sheet feeder is first switched into the system is reduced with a switch-on torque limiter. The torque limiter is disposed in the drive train between the sheet processing machine and the sheet feeder, so that a torque surge which occurs when the sheet feeder is coupled in at an increased basic speed of the sheet processing machine can be absorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Zeltner, Darko Zimbakov
  • Patent number: 7192028
    Abstract: In a device for processing printed products supplied to a stacking device, the printed products are picked up at a delivery of a printing machine or a printed product processing machine by a transport device and are transported in a suspended position on a transport path to a transfer device upstream of a stacking device. The stacking device is a unit detachable from the transfer device and connectable alternatingly to the transfer device connected so as to effect conveying of the printed products to the printing machine or the printed product processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Grapha-Holding AG
    Inventor: Felix Kramer
  • Patent number: 7192027
    Abstract: A signature transport device includes a first conveyor for moving a plurality of folded signatures in a first direction and a second conveyor including a first blade having a first edge for lifting a first signature of the plurality of signatures from the first conveyor. The first edge is parallel to the first direction, and the blade moves in a second direction sloping upward at an acute angle with respect to the first direction. In addition, a method for conveying signatures is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: James Richard Schlough
  • Patent number: 7168697
    Abstract: A device that is usable for delivering printed products includes two bucket or paddle wheels that can rotate about two different axes of rotation. Each bucket or paddle wheel includes a plurality of scoop-type elements that can receive printed products from a first or a second product flow. A gripper chain is guided around the two different axes of rotation. Grippers are arranged on the gripper chain and can grip and printed products received in the scoop-type element to thereby remove the product from the scoop. At least one device that will open the grippers, for release of the printed products held by the grippers, is arranged along the path of travel of the gripper chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 7168473
    Abstract: A web or fleece of synthetic resin strand collected on a sieve belt is discharged from the sieve belt into further processing equipment over a rerouting roller at the discharge end of the sieve belt. The rerouting roller is perforated and air or another fluid medium is passed through the belt at the rerouting roller to reduce adhesion forces between the belt and the web and lift the web from the belt without damage to the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Reifenhauser GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Geus, Detlef Frey
  • Patent number: 7150454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of conveying flat, flexible products, in particular printed products, in which the products are conveyed continuously by means of a conveying device in an overlapping formation to a transfer region and are picked up there by an outward conveyor. The outward conveyor comprises grippers which are moved along a movement path, can be controlled individually to open and close and have at least two gripper jaws, whose alignment relative to the movement path can be varied. According to the invention, the grippers are moved in such a way that the gripper jaw facing the conveying device engages in the manner of a shovel underneath the trailing edge of at least one product resting partly on the trailing product in the transfer region, without said product having previously been raised off the trailing product, and then raises said product. The products, before or after being engaged underneath, are braked relative to trailing products and/or fixed in their position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Werner Honegger