Patents Assigned to AM International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4729308
    Abstract: A conversion system for readily changing a printing couple of a printing or duplicating machine between a separated system wherein moisture and ink are distributed to a master cylinder through separate paths and an integrated system wherein the moisture and ink are mixed in common paths to the master cylinder. A transfer roller of the main ink distribution system is bodily movable into and out of rolling contact with a moisture form roller of the main moisture distribution system to convert between the integrated and separated systems. The transfer roller is journalled on the machine and is so moved without removing or disconnecting the transfer roller. The driving connection of another transfer roller in the moisture feeding system is selectively switchable to change the location of slippage between the rollers in the moisture feeding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Witczak
  • Patent number: 4682543
    Abstract: An ink or moisture pickup roller for feeding ink or moisture from a reservoir or fountain roller to a transfer roller. The surface of the pickup roller is formed by a plurality of spaced circular ribs defining a pattern of generally parallel ridges and valleys along the roller normal to the axis of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Witczak, Earl L. Gasner
  • Patent number: 4678597
    Abstract: A chemical cleaning composition consisting essentially of water, a hydroxycarboxylic acid and a peroxymonosulfate compound is useful for cleaning processing tanks used in silver halide based photographic processing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Kiener
  • Patent number: 4677912
    Abstract: An interchangeable ink fountain system for use in duplicating machines, such as offset lithographic machines. A plurality or set of ink fountains is provided for removable mounting on either a duplicating machine or a preparation station. Complementary interengaging supports are provided on each ink fountain and each of the duplicating machine and preparation station for selectively and removably mounting an ink fountain on either the duplicating machine or the preparation station. The preparation station includes a housing and light means in the housing behind the ink fountain for directing light through the ink flow through gap of the empty fountain, whereby an operator can readily visualize the gap dimensions while adjusting the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Eber L. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 4667949
    Abstract: In a printing machine or the like wherein sheets are delivered seriatim into a receiving tray whereat the sheets come to rest by gravity onto a stack in the tray, a device for facilitating stacking the sheets into the tray at high speed. Each sheet is directed from the machine in a path outwardly over the tray. Guide surfaces act against a lead end of the sheet to prevent upward escape of the sheets from the path. A deflecting mechanism diverts each sheet downwardly into the tray to clear the path for a succeeding sheet. A stop plate is provided beneath the deflecting mechanism for acting against a trail end of each sheet to control and guide the sheet into alignment onto the stack in the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eber L. Goodwin, James E. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 4612272
    Abstract: A pressure fixable single component electrophotographic toner or developer composition comprising a low melt viscosity polyamide resin composition and a magnetic oxide component. Highly conductive carbon may be added to control the resistivity of the developer particles. The toner includes a magnetic oxide component in a range of from 50 to 65 percent by weight and a polyamide resinous component in a range of from 50 to 35 percent by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Virgil W. Westdale
  • Patent number: 4612273
    Abstract: A pressure fixable single component electrophotographic toner or developer composition of a particle size of from 10-40 microns comprising a specialized low melt viscosity polyamide resin composition and a magnetic oxide component. Highly conductive carbon may be added to control the resistivity of the developer particles. The developer comprises from 65.50 percent of the magnetic oxide component and from 35-50 percent of the polyamide resinous component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil W. Westdale, James L. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 4529190
    Abstract: A sheet unloading device for use in a printing or duplicating machine, or the like, wherein sheets are delivered seriatim to a receiving tray whereat the sheets are deposited onto the top of a stack of sheets in the tray. An interposer mechanism is movable to an operative position at the end of the tray for dividing the tray into a first, lower portion and a second, upper portion. The interposer mechanism permits removal of the lower portion of the stack while sheets are continuously delivered to the upper portion of the stack. A back stop is provided at the end of the tray and can be selectively lowered to permit removal of the lower portion of the stack of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eber L. Goodwin, James E. L. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 4526364
    Abstract: A sheet material feeding mechanism for use in a duplex duplicating machine. A pressure roller extends laterally across a sheet path for engaging the blank side of a previously imaged copy sheet. A feed roller assembly forms a nip with the pressure roller through which the sheet is fed. The feed roller assembly includes a pair of feed rollers mounted on the outside of a pair of support members for positioning the feed rollers near the marginal edges of the sheet to preclude tracking the imaged side of the sheet. The feed rollers are axially adjustable for accommodating different sheet sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Evans, Charles H. Espersen, John W. Tsai
  • Patent number: 4514077
    Abstract: A magnetic toner developing device for developing images on a photoconductive sheet. The device includes a magnetic developer roller brush for applying a single component toner to the sheet. An electrically isolated guide plate extends beneath the developer roller brush in close proximity thereto and supports the sheet in its travel through a development zone formed between the developer roller brush and the guide plate. The guide plate is electrically isolated from a support frame to eliminate electrostatic clamping of the sheet to the guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil W. Westdale, James L. Hanrahan, William C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4506879
    Abstract: A mechanism for registering sheets in a printing or duplicating machine which includes a conveyor board for delivering the sheets seriatim to the registering mechanism. A stop guide is mounted on a fixed support of the machine at one side of the conveyor board. A jogger guide is mounted on a jogger device of the machine at the opposite side of the conveyor board. The jogger guide includes a spring loaded blade for acting against a side edge of the sheet to move the sheet laterally to engage an opposite side edge of the sheet against the stop guide. The spring pressure of the blade is adjustable to accommodate sheets of varying weight, and the blade is provided with floating movement to accommodate sheets which are skewed or out-of-square. A calibrated dial is employed for incrementally adjusting the location and spring pressure of the blade. The stop guide and jogger guide are easily converted for left hand or right hand jogging, or vice versa, without removing either guide from the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eber L. Goodwin, James E. L. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 4495269
    Abstract: An aqueous diazo coating composition is disclosed to be used in accordance with an alkaline vapor development system, containing a hydrolyzed resin together with a diazo light-sensitive compound, coupling agent and stabilizing materials. The aqueous diazo coating composition of the present invention provides a method of fabricating a light-sensitive diazo member for use in combination with a development system utilizing alkaline vapors which excludes the use of organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward C. Bialczak, John J. Chernovitz
  • Patent number: 4484203
    Abstract: Registration is maintained as between an electron beam and that portion of a light-emissive interface selected for visualizing beam-defined characters by providing a discernible indicium on the interface at a location exterior to the selected interface portion and interacting the beam with interface area inclusive of the indicium. Signals are generated by a detector viewing such interface area and information for correction of beam deflection is obtained from the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Booth, Frank L. Scholten
  • Patent number: 4443094
    Abstract: In a duplicating machine for duplicating images on both sides of copy sheets including a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder, a mechanism for handling the sheets and re-feeding the sheets back to the impression cylinder for duplex copying. The blanket cylinder has first and second images transferable to the copy sheets. The impression cylinder forms a nip with the blanket cylinder for transferring the copy sheets through the nip. A first gripper on the impression cylinder releasably engages a lead end of a copy sheet and moves the sheet through the nip to transfer the first image on a first side of the sheet. A chain gripper releasably engages the lead end of the sheet transferred thereto by the first gripper and transports the sheet away from the impression cylinder. A swing gripper releasably engages a trail end of the sheet in timed relation with release of the sheet by the chain gripper and re-feeds the sheet back to the impression cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Ricciardi
  • Patent number: 4440847
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing an oleophilic drafting film and related light-sensitive reprographic member. An aqueous drafting composition is disclosed which is both compatible with hydrophobic material and diazo light-sensitive compositions which provides for an expedient method of fabricating drafting film. The drafting composition comprises an acrylic resin emulsion containing an aziridine hardening agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse E. Whittemore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4430413
    Abstract: An improved process for preparing a single component toner or developer composition is disclosed whereby toner fines are removed from the composition prior to the addition of conductive carbon followed by a reclassification step to remove excess carbon particles, i.e., those carbon particles not attached to the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil W. Westdale, James L. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 4430407
    Abstract: A single component electrophotographic developer composition is disclosed comprising a low melt viscosity polyamide resin and a magnetic oxide component of such particle size as to greatly enhance the development of low background high density images. Highly conductive carbon may be added to control the resistivity of the developer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Virgil W. Westdale
  • Patent number: 4430403
    Abstract: A process of preparing a lithographic printing master is presented utilizing electrophotographic principles. As a result of the high density, low background images which can be developed using the disclosed novel developer composition, a high quality lithographic master can be fabricated. The novel developer composition comprises a low melt viscosity polyamide resin, a magnetic oxide component and a conductive carbon pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Virgil W. Westdale, James L. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 4419959
    Abstract: A magnetic toner developing system has a hopper feeding magnetic toner to a magnetic roller brush positioned over a non-magnetic guide that supports a sheet in its passage through a development zone. A plurality of magnets are mounted beneath the guide and restrain any toner on the underside of the sheet from being carried away from the development zone. The stronger magnetic field of the developer brush attracts the restrained toner as the sheet is transported out of the development zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventor: Virgil W. Westdale
  • Patent number: 4377331
    Abstract: A copying machine such as a diazotype copier which uses developing reagents which produce fumes is provided with an economical attachment for scavenging any fugitive gas traces and passing them through a treatment cartridge. A manifold mounted in the machine housing has an insert strip with air access openings which can be sized to suit the requirements of a particular copying machine. An air conduit hose has a snap connection with the manifold and with one end of a blower housing the other end of which is attachable to and readily detachable from a unitary disposable supply package which is floor supported and supports the blower housing. The supply package includes a supply of gas generating development material in one portion, and in the other, a gas treatment cartridge of inexpensive disposable character which is so constructed as to pass incoming air down through a central tube and then upwardly through a tube-surrounding space containing gas treatment material and then into the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: AM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry G. Seelenbinder, Richard W. Jackson, Thomas D. Kajohn, Jr.