Endless Conveyors To Other Conveyors Patents (Class 271/69)
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Patent number: 7131645Abstract: A device for separation of folders within a layer of folders includes elements for blocking the advance of a folder in the layer, elements for unlayering the folders preceding the retained folder, and elements for retaining the blocked folder and the folders following it relative to the advance of the layer acting successively on the folders.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Recmi IndustrieInventor: Jean-Pierre Bodereau
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Patent number: 7124877Abstract: For converting a stream of flat articles from transverse conveyance to parallel conveyance, two continuously operated conveyors are provided, a transverse conveyor having a direction (FQ) of transverse conveyance and serving as supplying conveyor and a parallel conveyor having a direction (FP) of parallel conveyance and serving as removing conveyor. The direction (FQ) of transverse conveyance and the direction (FP) of parallel conveyance encompass an angle. The articles are pushed one after the other out of an outlet of the supplying conveyor towards an entrance of the removing conveyor. Before a trailing zone of the article has left the supplying conveyor, a leading zone of the article is grasped by an alignment device and is conveyed onwards with the speed of the parallel conveyor in the direction (FP) of parallel conveyance and is thereby aligned to the entrance of the removing conveyor, while the trailing zone is bent between the alignment device and the outlet of the supplying conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Werner Honegger
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Patent number: 6976675Abstract: A supply stream (1) of flat articles (8), in particular of printed products that are conveyed hanging and held by grippers, is transformed into an imbricated stream (2, 3, 4, 5) or into sections of an imbricated stream, in which the articles are arranged in one of two or advantageously four possible ways. For the stream transformation, the articles (8) are selectively deposited on a conveying surface at a first or at a second depositing point (I, II). The articles (8) deposited at the first depositing point (I) or to be deposited at the first depositing point (I) are additionally rotated by 180° (after or before deposition) and the held article edges are, advantageously selectively, leading or trailing on deposition. The selective stream transformation and switching between transformation modes (A, B/B?, C or D/D?) are very simple.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Reinhard Gosslinghoff
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Patent number: 6969059Abstract: A shingling apparatus for sheets of paper or paperboard includes a pair of independently operable vacuum plenums in a gap between an in-feed conveyor and a reduced speed shingling conveyor. One of the vacuum plenums decelerates an incoming sheet to shingling conveyor speed while the second vacuum plenum captures and pulls down the tail of the sheet to allow the faster moving following sheet to override the tail. This dual vacuum action enhances sheet control, requires very little vertical displacement of the sheets at the vacuum plenums, and enhances the squareness of the shingle that is formed. The system may also include a downstream shingle separator including a translating connection that assists in pulling the necessary gap between downstream shingle portion being directed into a stacker and an upstream shingle portion that is accumulated until the downstream shingle portion is stacked and discharged.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2003Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Marquip, LLCInventor: Jeffrey U. Gafner
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Patent number: 6945531Abstract: A device for achieving the separation or extension of the scale of products in a conveyance in superposed copies in which means are provided that are capable of increasing the speed of the belts (12, 17) conveying the separated or extended scale relative to the speed of the upstream belt (11) of the device for the conveyance of the scale before the separation or extension.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2001Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: ERCA Di Erminio Maria Traversi & C. S.a.s.Inventors: Aldo Perobelli, Giorgio Pessina
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Patent number: 6877732Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: Ferag AGInventors: Walter Reist, Willi Leu
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Patent number: 6871849Abstract: A delivery includes sheet brakes and sheet supports constructed of modules including respectively identical carrier modules and braking modules with operationally revolving braking elements, the braking modules being selectively connectable to the carrier modules, and support modules selectively connectable to the carrier modules.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Heidelberger Druckcmaschinen AGInventors: Sven Kerpe, Frank Gunschera, Ralf Wadlinger, Manfred Koch
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Patent number: 6814352Abstract: An installation for processing piece goods including a processing station and a supply unit and/or removal unit. Supply and removal units are displaceable relative to the processing device. Supply and removal units include a closed-in-itself rail track and a plurality of grippers independently traveling along the rail. Supply and removal units further include a take-over drive and a delivery drive, the drives being independent of one another. The delivery drive of the supply unit and the take-over drive of the removal unit include a feature (e.g. a toothed belt) for coupling the drive to the periphery of the processing device. The installation is applicable e.g. for producing products from a plurality of sub-products in a drum-shaped processing device. The installation is very flexible and easy with regard to conversions, adjustments, trouble-shooting and maintenance.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Marcel Ramseier
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Patent number: 6802503Abstract: In a transport mechanism of a sorting machine for large thin objects, objects to be transported (paper sheets such as postal matter) stored in transport boxes can be made collectable into smaller collection boxes than the transport boxes. The transport boxes storing and transporting the paper sheets given sorting information are attached to a free chain which is supported by the rail that is twisted and always drives, and when it approaches a spot where the rail is twisted, the free chain is also twisted following the rail. The transport boxes attached to the free chain are also tilted at the same time, and the paper sheets reach an end surfaces on the side at which the transport boxes are lowered and are positioned.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: NEC CorporationInventors: Kazuhito Iida, Kenichi Ikegami
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Publication number: 20040145108Abstract: An apparatus which can shingle a series of products and a method relating thereto, the apparatus, in one embodiment, having first upper and lower moving surfaces to receive a product, a second upper moving surface at an exit end of the first moving surfaces, the second upper surface being angled downwardly, a deflector to deflect the leading edge of the product moving along the second upper moving surface, and a second lower moving surface located below the deflector to receive a product. The device provides a positive control for the product and eliminates the use of delivery fan (fly) systems. Also provided are devices to reform various combinations of copies as used in the printing industry.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Edward Desaulniers, John Lovaghy, Robert Classen
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Publication number: 20040113350Abstract: A sheet-processing machine contains at least one processing station in the form of a printing unit, and a delivery with an endless conveyor and after-grippers that are guided by a mechanism connected to a drive. The after-grippers take over the processed sheets from the endless conveyor and release them over a stack. The sheet-processing machine provides for it to be possible for the mechanism to be set to positions that are correlated with different formats of the processed sheets, and for the drive that actuates the mechanism to keep the mechanism at one and the same phase angle with respect to the printing unit in each of the positions. Therefore, even in the event of different formats of the processed sheets, user-friendly placing of the stack is possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Peter Forch, Markus Mohringer, Paul Nicola
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Patent number: 6749190Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for gathering flat articles (5) into stacks (9) by conveying stacks in production successively along a gathering route (1) past feed stations. The stacks (9) are conveyed on stack supports (2) with supporting surfaces (7). Leading edges (5.1) of the articles (5) to be added to the stacks are held by holding elements (4) that move in a supply route (3) that traverses the gathering route (1) at the feed stations. Each article (5) is inserted between successive stacks (9) or stack supports (2), with the leading edge (5.1) being inserted first. The inserted article is released from its associated holding element (4) and then positioned on the upstream or downstream stack (9) or stack support (2) by the force of gravity and/or by its own inertia, and the holding element (4) is conveyed onwards in a downward direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Beat Studer
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Patent number: 6726201Abstract: For the horizontal positioning of serially supplied, flat objects (1) to be conveyed onward, the objects (1) are supplied suspended, one of their main surfaces (10) facing downstream and the other main surface (11) facing upstream. Prior to positioning, lower edge zones (13) of the objects (1) are selectively accelerated or retarded relative to the upper edge zones (12), so that the objects (1) are brought into a position inclined relative to the vertical. Thereafter, the upper edge zones (12) are released and the objects (1), under the influence of gravity, are positioned on an onward conveying device, selectively either the downstream or the upstream main surface (10 or 11) facing upwards. For retarding or accelerating the lower edge zones (13), for example, a conveyor belt or two conveyor belts adjoining one another are utilized. The speed (v.3) of the conveyor belts is adjustable to convert from accelerating operation to retarding operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Beat Studer
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Publication number: 20040061276Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus by means of which sheet like products which follow one after the other along a feed section are transferred to a conveying arrangement with individually controllable grippers which can be moved in the conveying direction, are arranged one behind the other and are designed for gripping the products at their leading edge, the feed section having, in its end region which is directed toward the conveying arrangement, a conveying nip, in which the sheet-like products are retained, at least in part, on both sides, in the case of which apparatus, in the product-receiving region of the grippers, a positive stop, which is active during each product transfer, is provided for the leading edges of the products, the spacing between the positive stop and conveying nip being selected such that the trailing edges of the products are still located in the conveying nip when the leading edges strike against the positive stop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: Ferag AG.Inventors: Marcel Ramseier, Beat Studer
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Patent number: 6702100Abstract: Flat articles are taken over from a supply device supplying the products e.g. in the form of an imbricated stream and, for creating groups, are transferred to a conveying-away device. Thereby the supply direction and the conveying-away direction are angled in the horizontal plan view. For the transfer of the articles devices are used having a circulating conveying organ with laterally protruding gripper arms and grippers arranged on the gripper arms. The circulation track of the conveying organ extends in a take-over direction through a take-over zone and in a transfer direction through a transfer zone and represents a deflection between take-over and transfer zone.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Beat Studer
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Patent number: 6698742Abstract: A number of circulatory elements arranged one behind the other are driven in a direction of circulation and have a suction element and a supporting element in each case on the first side and on the second side. The circulatory elements receive a supplementary product at the pick-up location and transfer the same, in a first mode of operation, to the respectively preceding circulatory element. In a second mode of operation, no transfer takes place. This results in it being possible for the supplementary products received in the same manner to be brought into abutment optionally against the leading side or trailing side of the printed products and pressed on there.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2002Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Egon Hansch
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Publication number: 20040000749Abstract: Sheet perfecting apparatus for satellite-type printing press is disclosed by which double-side printing is performed with single satellite-type press and, in case sheet perfecting is not needed, register error is not caused.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: SHINOHARA MACHINERY CO., LTD.Inventor: Masayuki Iwamoto
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Patent number: 6669192Abstract: A conveying-in stream in which flat articles (4) are conveyed held gripped individually is transformed into a conveying-away stream in which the articles (4) are loosely lying overlapping one another in an imbricated manner and in alternating groups oriented rotated relative to each other. The conveying-in track intersects with the conveying away track at two track intersections (A and B) and the articles (4) are transferred from the conveying-in track to the conveying-away track in alternating groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) at the first track intersection (A) or at the second track intersection (B). In the conveying-away stream, the articles (4) are arranged in imbricated stream sections (1A/1B) with each section including one or two groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B . . . ) of articles (4) and being separated from neighboring sections by a stream gap (22).Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Walter Reist
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Patent number: 6666324Abstract: A system and method reorients flat articles in a serial stream, by receiving a horizontally moving, serial input stream of substantially vertically oriented flat articles each having a downwardly oriented primary edge, laterally diverting the flat articles in the serial input stream alternately between a pair of separate paths, impeding horizontal movement of each flat article in each separate path, accelerating each flat article with impeded horizontal movement in the direction of its primary edge, and delivering substantially horizontally oriented flat articles from each separate path.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Lockhead Martin CorporationInventors: Edward Engarto, Robert J. Felice, Patrick J. Fitzgibbons, Drew D. Havholm
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Patent number: 6619651Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming an imbricated stream of first and second printed products, in which in each case a first and a second printed product are located substantially congruently one upon the other in double imbricated formation. The first and second printed products are individually gripped alternately by an intermediate conveyor and conveyed one behind the other at a conveying spacing d. In each case a first printed product is transferred in a transfer region from the intermediate conveyor to a removal conveyor, which is designed as a belt conveyor, such that the first printed product comes to rest on the belt conveyor and overlaps the preceding printed product in an imbricated manner. A second printed product is then deposited such that it comes to rest substantially congruently on a first printed product which has already been deposited.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Carl Conrad Mäder
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Patent number: 6612563Abstract: The device stacks successive planar products (newspapers) and separates a plurality of the products into individual stacks. A circular conveyor has a plurality of grippers thereon which are spaced apart by a circumferential distance, grasps the planar products from a linear conveyor, upstream of the circular conveyor, so that the products are transferred from the linear conveyor to the circular conveyor and onto a stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Graphic Management Associates, Inc.Inventor: Harry C. Noll, Jr.
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Publication number: 20030146563Abstract: Method of depositing sheet-like products (2), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the depositing operation, assisted by gravitational force, the products (2) are pivoted about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the depositing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Walter Reist, Willi Leu
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Patent number: 6588745Abstract: Flat articles (3) each held by a feeding-in gripper (5) on a leading first edge are fed-in to a hold changing station (1) one after the other, are pulled onto a changing support situated in the changing station (1), and are deposited on it by opening the feeding-in gripper (5). Each deposited article is then pushed across the changing support (10) by a conveying-away gripper (6) and, while being pushed, is grasped by closing the conveying-away gripper (6) and is conveyed away held gripped on a second edge. Advantageously, the feeding-in direction (Z) and the conveying-away direction (W) intersect above the changing support (10) under the one angle (&agr;), which is also constituted by the first and the second edge. For the hold change of rectangular printed products, the angle (&agr;) amounts to 90°. For pushing the articles, the conveying-away grippers (6) move in the plane of the surface of the changing support and are driven from below.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Reinhard Gosslinghof
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Patent number: 6585258Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide, a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignees: Konica Corporation, Nisca CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hiroshi Nakagomi, Yasuhito Watanabe, Hiroshi Maeshima, Kazunori Yoshioka
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Patent number: 6585263Abstract: A deceleration drum assembly has a deceleration drum with at least one gripper for gripping and transporting signatures. A guide surface assembly is provided which produces a fluid flow for transporting the signature in a contactless manner above the guide surface assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2000Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Paul Emmett Bredenberg, Rich Daniel Curley, John Lee Ketchum
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Patent number: 6578846Abstract: A device for transporting a sheet for a sheet-processing machine in a processing direction includes first grippers for gripping the sheet at a leading gripper edge, as viewed in the direction of processing, the first grippers revolving in a first direction during operation. Also provided is a cylinder bearing the first grippers, and having a support surface formed at the circumference thereof for supporting the sheet gripped by the first grippers.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Albert Maul, Jürgen Rautert
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Patent number: 6554266Abstract: A guide apparatus is composed of a guide plate which is disposed in such a manner as to be able to move between an active position located within the sheet transfer space and a retreat position where the guide plate does not interfere with the sheet transferring from the collect cylinder to the jaw cylinder; a position-changeover drive unit for moving the guide plate between the active position and the retreat position; a printing-speed detection unit for detecting the driving speed of a rotary press and outputting a driving speed signal during printing; and a control unit for outputting, upon reception of the driving speed signal from the printing-speed detection unit, a position changeover signal to the position-changeover drive unit in order to move the guide plate accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho LtdInventors: Takeo Nanba, Takao Narui
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Publication number: 20030057632Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus that is capable of preventing sheets conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus from being skewed, wrinkled, damaged, or jammed, and prevent sheets stored in the sheet processing apparatus from being misaligned. The sheet processing apparatus receives a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus comprising fixing rollers that hold and convey a sheet on which is formed an image at a first conveying speed and with a first conveying force, discharge rollers disposed downstream of the fixing rollers in a sheet conveying direction, for conveying the sheet at a second conveying speed higher than the first conveying speed and with a second conveying force smaller than the first conveying force, and a controller that determines whether a trailing end of the sheet is released from the fixing rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Inventors: Shunsuke Nishimura, Yoshinori Isobe
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Patent number: 6367796Abstract: A sheet-like object feed unit in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a feedboard, paper feed belts, connecting plate, improper paper feeding detector, swing arm shaft pregripper, transfer cylinder, non-motion roller, gripper closing cam, and air cylinder. The feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate convey a sheet-like object. The improper paper feeding detector is disposed on a sheet-like object convey path including the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate, and detects improper feeding of the sheet-like object. The swing arm shaft pregripper is disposed downstream of the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate in a sheet-like object convey direction, and has a first holding unit for holding the sheet-like object conveyed by the feedboard, paper feed belts, and connecting plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Komori CorporationInventor: Hirotaka Iida
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Patent number: 6338479Abstract: In the in-line processing of flat objects (S1-S7), the flat objects (S1-S7) are fed from a device (4) and serially transferred to a downstream system (5). In the system (5) the objects (S1-S7) are transported and, if necessary, temporarily collected. The temporary collection of specimens of the objects (S1-S7) occurs in a configuration with a pitch in the direction of transport which is smaller than the dimensions in the direction of transport of the objects (S1-S7) in question. Then collected objects (S1-S7) are moved away from each other, from that configuration, and further transported with mutual interspaces. Because the flat objects (S1-S7) are stored with a pitch less than the size in the direction of transport, a large number of objects (S1-S7) can be collected in a buffer portion (34, 35; 134; 234) of a small length. Because the objects (S1-S7) are stored with a pitch in the direction of transport, however, they can be readily moved away from each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1998Date of Patent: January 15, 2002Assignee: Neopost B.V.Inventors: Jeichienus Adriaan Van Der Werff, René Van Den Berg
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Patent number: 6257819Abstract: A device for hooking, picking up and unloading flexible printed circuits to be introduced into a kiln, comprising one or more jaws to grip the circuit and to rotate freely around a horizontal axis—to supports which slide along vertical guides; handling systems adapted to move the supports along the vertical guides so as to move the jaws from the circuit feed position to the position in which the circuits are inserted into the kiln; systems designed to impose a slight rotation on the supports in at least one direction around the horizontal axis; and systems designed to activate the rotating pistons only at the circuit unloading stage after the treatment cycle in the kiln, so as to place the circuits in a slightly tilted position.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Inventor: Alessandro Garioni
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Patent number: 6241648Abstract: A signature-delivery-pitch regulating apparatus includes a grip mechanism adapted to grip a signature received in a rotating delivery fan, push the signature out of the delivery fan, and then release the signature on the transport conveyer operating at a speed slower than the moving speed of the grip mechanism. The grip mechanism includes at least one endless chain in meshing engagement with at least a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket rotates at a position within a rotation locus of bottoms of signature receiving spaces of the delivery fan and in the vicinity of a region where the delivery fan comes close to the transport conveyer. The second sprocket has an outer circumference located outside the rotation region of the delivery fan. The endless chain can travel along the transport direction of the transport conveyer from a position inside the rotation region of the delivery fan to a position outside the rotation region of the delivery fan.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshinori Uera, Kazuyuki Motojima, Noritake Harada
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Patent number: 6196538Abstract: The apparatus has an intermediate conveyor (18) with conveying elements (26) distributed in the circumferential direction on bearing plates (36). Each conveying element (26) has a roller segment (54), which is driven counter to the direction of circulation (U), and a belt conveyor (56) which is assigned to said roller segment. A control device (48) keeps the conveying elements (26) in a mutually parallel position during circulation in the direction of circulation (U). During movement past the receiving location (16), a rear section (82) of the roller segment (54) and the belt conveyor (56) form an introduction gap (24) for a product (14) fed by a feed conveyor (12) in each case. During further rotation, said product (14) is moved through the conveying element (26), in the conveying gap (90) now formed by the roller segment (54) and belt conveyor (56), and is deflected by means of the guide element (92).Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Ferag AGInventors: Hans-Ulrich Stauber, Alex Keller
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Patent number: 6182960Abstract: The apparatus for processing flexible, sheet-like products (14) has a feed conveyor (12) which is intended for feeding the products (14) to an intermediate conveyor (18). The latter has pivotably controlled grippers (22) arranged one behind the other and moved along a continuous circulatory path (26) in the direction of circulation (U). The intermediate conveyor (18) is intended for altering the position of the fed products (14), while the sequence of the products remains unaltered, such that the previously mutually facing sides of adjacent products (14) are reversed, and then for transferring the products to a removal conveyor (38). For this purpose, each gripper (22) is controlled such that the product (14) retained by it is drawn around the following gripper (22) as seen in the direction of circulation (U), from one side of the gripper to the other side.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Ferag AGInventors: Alex Keller, Roberto Fenile
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Patent number: 6168370Abstract: A counter-stacker (10) for tortillas includes a housing (12), a perforated belt (16) within the housing (12), the perforated belt (16) adapted and arranged to receive incoming tortillas (42) and form vacuum-lifted tortillas (42A). At least one stacker belt (26) is rotatably mounted within the housing (12). A vacuum housing (28) is sealably mounted to the housing (12), the vacuum housing (28) connected to a means of producing vacuum (30). At least one stacker canister (32) is positioned under a rear end of the perforated belt (16). A bottom perforated plate (36A) has a plurality of bottom perforated plate openings (36AA) therethrough positioned within the perforated belt (16). A top perforated plate (36B) is slidably positioned on top of the bottom perforated plate (36A), the top perforated plate (36B) comprising a plurality of complimentary positioned top perforated plate openings (36BA).Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: ITE, Inc.Inventors: Jose L. Longoria, Steven M. Kenison
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Patent number: 6107579Abstract: A device for automatically determining the weight of items of post comprising a feeding device (1) that contain conveyor belts that grip the postal items and conveys them in single file. A distributor (3) separates the incomming stream of items from the feeding device (1) into parallel conveying paths (TS) where they are weighed. The parallel conveying paths (TS) also contain belts which continue to grasp the postal items even as they are being weighed. Once the items are weighed, they are fed to a channelling device (4) which recombines the multiple streams of postal items from the parallel conveying paths (TS) into a single stream (2).Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Georg Kinnemann
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Patent number: 6003864Abstract: A self adjusting jam prevention guide and jam clearance baffle for a printing machine. A moveable guide is attached to a machine subsystem module and is moveable from a first position to a second position. In the first position the guide bridges a gap between the machine subsystem module and a preceding subsystem module. In the second position, the guide is retracted from the gap to allow easy removal of one of the subsystem modules. The moveable guide is preferably self actuated by the use of a biasing device and a ramped section so that the movement of one of the adjacent subsystem modules causes extension and retraction of the guide. A jam clearance aid is further attached to the exit of the machine subsystem module. The clearance aid uses a J-shaped channel to cause a sheet fed into a jammed sheet to buckle and cause both the first jammed sheet and subsequent sheets to be partially ejected from the paper path for easy removal therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1997Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Youti Kuo, Roger C. Male, Anthony G. Poletto, Alfred Zielinski
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Patent number: 6000695Abstract: A device for the transport and deposit of sheets in a stacking region is provided. The device includes pneumatic guiding elements below the conveying path and extending across the entire width. A chain-conveyor system and a pneumatic conveyor system following the chain-conveyor system are provided. The devices also provides for selectable paths to plural delivery positions.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1996Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventors: Richard Burkhard Mack, Erich Michael Zahn
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Patent number: 5957449Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for conveying a stream of printed products. The printed products are first conveyed along a first conveyor loop in a position in which they are oriented essentially tangentially to the conveying direction, and are transferred to a second conveyor loop. To facilitate the transfer, the printed products are brought into a transfer position, in which at least one region of each printed product is oriented at an angle to the tangential orientation.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Grapha-Holding AGInventor: Ernst Luthi
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Patent number: 5899453Abstract: A document collector, stager and diverter apparatus and method are provided for processing sheet articles through a first and second stage. The first stage is adapted for receiving sheet articles advanced thereto and collected therein and includes a first transport mechanism being operative for selectively diverting collected sheet articles in a divert direction opposite to the conveying direction of the sheet articles. Alternately, the first transport mechanism is operative for selectively advancing the collected sheet articles from the first stage to the second stage. In the second stage, sheet articles can be independently processed and held until a predetermined time when they can be advanced from the second stage by a second transport mechanism. The first and second transport mechanisms each preferably includes plastic chains each with plastic lugs thereon. The chains of the first and second transport mechanisms are simultaneously rotatably movable by a motor and gears or pulleys associated therewith.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Bell & Howell Mail Processing SystemsInventors: Neal J. Middelberg, Keith A. Brown, Sr., Gregory T. Lucas, Daniel C. Park
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Patent number: 5853170Abstract: An apparatus for the transfer of flat workpieces from a first conveyor to a second conveyor consists of a first conveyor with two endless pulling members circulating parallel to each other over guide wheels or drive wheels which carry in pairs supporting elements with pins. The pins perforating and conveying the workpieces project above a table forming the conveyance path by virtue of the supporting elements and the pins having attachments which run in guides that are parallel to the table and which displace the attachments towards each other. The pulling members of the second conveyor carry in pairs supporting elements with pins which project above a table forming the conveyance path. In the transfer zone of the two conveyors, a plunger is arranged in the frame and mounted in guides. The plunger can be raised and lowered and impales the workpieces onto the pins of the second conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1996Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Windmoller & HolscherInventors: Fritz Achelpohl, Richard Feldkamper, Andreas Kampschulte, Uwe Kohn
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Patent number: 5711521Abstract: The conveying apparatus has a feed conveyor which is intended for conveying printed products against a stop. The printed products arrive at the conveying apparatus in an imbricated formation in which each printed product rests on the following printed product. The distance (A) between the stop and the directing member can be changed in time with the arriving printed products, with the result that, when the distance (A) is shortened, the directing member engages beneath the printed product respectively butting against the stop and directs it into the range of action of the removal conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1996Date of Patent: January 27, 1998Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: Walter Reist
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Patent number: 5655644Abstract: A seamless paper media gate (10) for supporting moving sheets thereon while enabling the sheets to be directed in a range of angular directions, includes a plate member (12), a deflector member (48), and a spring (44). The plate member includes a first sheet supporting surface (14), and an end portion (16). The end portion includes a transition surface (18), which in cross section terminates at a transition edge (20). The deflector member is rotatably mounted on the plate member and includes a second sheet supporting surface (22). The deflector member includes in cross section a first finger portion (26) upon which the second surface is tapered to a point (28) which forms a lineal edge (27) that engages the transition surface. The deflector member also has a first rib (38) that engages a of a first slot (34). The rib includes a cam surface (43) that suitably engages a cam support surface of the slot to provide a fixed pivot point as the deflector member rotates.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: InterBoldInventor: H. Thomas Graef
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Patent number: 5462268Abstract: A device is intended for receiving one by one from an entry conveyor (2) flat objects moving along in the same plane in a first direction and for displacing them one by one towards an exit conveyor (5) includes reception conveyor (11) including a plurality of receptacles (12) movable over at least a part of their path in a second direction (F1) substantially orthogonal to the the first direction (F2), each receptacle being capable of receiving a flat object bearing in a position which is slightly inclined with respect to vertical, and a stationary station (7) for reception and stopping in a position which is slightly inclined with respect to vertical of the flat objects originating from the entry conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1994Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Assignee: Bertin & CieInventors: Jean-Luc A. M. Remy, Jean Roch, Jean-Pierre Volat
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Patent number: 5415389Abstract: An automatic storage and stacking device for sheets of laminar material, such as corrugated cardboard or the like, comprises a transportation unit which removes the sheets of laminar material from a cutting group, overlaps them and conveys them towards a storage surface. The transportation unit comprises a plurality of conveyors in series which can be operated at varying speeds so as to allow separation of a first series of sheets from a successive second series of sheets; with one of said conveyors there is associated a retainer for holding the rear portion of the first sheet of said second series, which retainer comprises a gripper member able to perform an alternating movement along the conveyor with which the gripper member is associated.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1993Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Assignee: Fosber S.R.L.Inventor: Mauro Adami
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Patent number: 5375827Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first feeding device having an endless traction member circulated at a constant speed and a carrier pawl mounted on the traction member for engaging a trailing edge of a sheet to be advanced. The apparatus further has a second feeding device being a continuation of the first feeding device and having an endless traction member; a carrier device mounted on the second traction member for engaging a trailing edge of a sheet to be advanced; and a drive for circulating the last-named traction member with a periodically changing travelling speed having a minimum value not higher than the speed of the traction member of the first feeding device and a maximum value greater than the speed of the traction member of the first feeding device and at the most equal to an initial speed with which the sheet enters a sheet handling station downstream of the second feeding device. The initial speed is at least as high as the constant speed of the traction member of the first feeding device.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1993Date of Patent: December 27, 1994Assignee: Krupp Maschinentechnik Gesellschaft mit beschraHaftungInventors: Norbert Lentz, Harald Schmidt
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Patent number: 5360508Abstract: An applying apparatus for applying films to a panel includes a film feed device for feeding leading edges of the films to a tentative applying position of applying the edges to the panel, an applying device for applying the films to the panel, and a movable panel conveyance device which is moved together with the applying device.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1992Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Assignee: Somar CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Taguchi, Yoji Washizaki, Akira Igarashi, Hiroyoshi Nakano
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Patent number: 5265868Abstract: A sheet feeding system includes a first conveyor and a second endless, clamp conveyor wherein the first conveyor includes an endless belt and an idler roller which is biased toward the belt and adjustably mounted along the belt relative to a clamp on the endless, clamp conveyor. The roller is spaced from the clamp a distance approximately equal to the length of a sheet being conveyed so that the sheet remains in a nip between the idler roller and the belt until the leading edge of the sheet is driven into the clamp and the trailing edge of the sheet clears the nip so that the sheet is not driven further into the clamp.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1992Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Inventors: David Bowser, Gerald D. Warden
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Method and apparatus for separating a stack of products into a stream of single products for sorting
Patent number: 5201397Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating feeding and sorting stacked products utilizes a computer controlled conveyor transport path. The transport path comprises infeed, separating and output sections. The infeed section includes an infeed conveyor and feed roller to regulate downstream movement into the separating section. The separating section includes a plurality of individually and selectively controlled friction feeder rolls arranged on a laterally tilted incline plane. The method and apparatus includes sensors along the separating section for determining position and relative movement of products. Through computer control, individual feeder rolls or sets of feeder rolls on the inclined plane are selectively energized to separate underlying products from stacked overlying or overlapping products. The foregoing process is repeated until all products in a stack have been separated into individual units.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1990Date of Patent: April 13, 1993Assignee: ElectroCom Automation L.P.Inventor: Gerald A. Isaacs -
Patent number: 5178383Abstract: A method for in-plane separation of side-by-side parallel sheet articles that are transported along mutually-laterally-adjacent, in-plane paths, the method comprising: feeding unconnected sheet articles parallel to one another to mutually divergent belt arrangements that are driven at the same speed; conveying the sheet articles in a common plane divergently in relation to one another through the divergent belt arrangements and thereby irrotationally separating the sheet articles in the common plane and conveying the articles to a transporter; transporting the sheet articles and selectively stopping them by and in collectors of the transporter; collecting the selectively-stopped sheet articles in the collectors; and selectively releasing and thereby delivering stopped sheet articles for further handling.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1992Date of Patent: January 12, 1993Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg CompanyInventors: James R. Moser, Gerald D. Warden, Thomas E. Bieber