Patents Examined by Carol L. Druzbick
  • Patent number: 5419544
    Abstract: A paper cassette comprises a paper stack tray provided on a cassette body, a stack tray locking mechanism for locking the paper stack tray and releasing the lock when the cassette is inserted into the cassette receptacle, and a first restoring member for pushing the paper stack tray toward a supply roller and bringing the paper when the lock of the stack tray locking mechanism is released. The stack tray locking mechanism comprises a pivot member provided on the cassette body such that the pivot member is free to pivot, a locking member which engages with the pivot member, and engages the paper stack tray in the locked position, and a second restoring member for pushing the pivot member in such a direction that the pivot member comes in contact with the supply roller so as to engage the locking member with the paper stack tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Ono, Masahiro Fukuda, Shigeki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5415392
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the release point of the timing of a gripper release in a sheet delivery of a sheet-processing machine, such as a printing machine, is disclosed. A gripper system is driven along a given travel path. The gripper system has gripper fingers for clamping a paper sheet, entraining the paper sheet along the given travel path and releasing the paper sheet at a predetermined position. A landing body with a cam surface is disposed at a stationary support structure and it is operatively associated with a member for releasing the paper sheet which travels with the grippers. The landing body is shiftable on a displacement track for the purpose of adjusting the timing of the paper release. The displacement track has a shape which is adapted to a geometric course of the given travel path of the gripper system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Maul
  • Patent number: 5413326
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting documents comprises first direction transporting structure for receiving first documents being conveyed seriatim in a first direction and transporting the first documents seriatim in the first direction. Second direction transporting structure is adjacent a downstream end of the first direction transporting structure for transporting the first documents in a second direction which is at an acute angle to the first direction. The second direction transporting structure seizes control of the first documents from the first direction transporting structure and positively transports the first documents in the second direction. Third direction transporting structure is adjacent the second direction transporting structure for transporting the first documents in the third direction after the first documents are released from the control of the second direction transporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Wright
  • Patent number: 5411147
    Abstract: A dynamic landfill recycling system has wheels attachable to a plurality of refuse processing sections in one or more semi-trailer or other vehicular units. A refuse receiving section has a dump bed or one or more vehicular refuse bins to accept new refuse from refuse trucks or optionally to accept old refuse from old refuse sites for processing, A primary conveyor belt is slanted upwardly towards a vibratory feeder. The primary conveyor is rotated rapidly to throw the refuse in an arc onto the vibratory feeder where the throwing action causes the refuse to spread out as it falls. The vibratory feeder is slanted downwardly at an angle which causes vibrated refuse to fall towards a bottom end and a bag cutter that is positioned above and intermediately between ends of the vibratory feeder to further expose and scatter the refuse on the vibratory feeder. A magnetic separator belt conveys the scattered refuse upwardly to a magnetic pulley wheel which separates ferrous from non-ferrous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: David S. Bond
  • Patent number: 5411248
    Abstract: A paper feeding device having a supporting member for supporting recording paper thereon, and at least one width regulating member which is provided on the supporting member and freely movable in a direction perpendicular to a paper transporting direction. A slide portion provided on the width regulating member is adapted to slide along a guide surface formed on the supporting member. A width regulating surface on the width regulating member intended to contact with the recording paper is so disposed as to deviated in the transporting direction from the slide portion. When a recording paper in process of conveyance happens to swerve and pressingly contact with the width regulating surface, the width regulating member is made to generate moment and is consequently prevented from sliding due to the swerve of the recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5409102
    Abstract: A walking beam conveyor is described, comprising a static support for the objects to be conveyed, a back and forth drivable conveyor beam which may cooperate with a lifting and lowering device consisting of a plurality of separate mechanisms, and a support for the lifting and lowering mechanisms.According to the invention each lifting and lowering mechanism (3) consists of a free rotatable roller (26), which is continuously in contact with the conveyor beam (2) having at least one support member (28), and of a roller support (9) which is provided with at least one inclined running surface (18) for the free rotatable roller and with at least one bearing surface (19, 20) for the support member at both ends of the inclined running surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Elten Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Hugo V. De Vries
  • Patent number: 5409206
    Abstract: An apparatus for buffering transport of freshly inked documents is comprised of an upper deck oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The apparatus has a plurality of opposite, parallel, threaded screw conveyers orthogonal to the upper deck. Inked documents travel upon the threads of the screw conveyers. A lower deck is provided for receiving inked documents. An eject pin mechanism causes the inked documents to be delivered from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Marzullo, Steven A. Supron, Brian S. Thompson, Ming Xiao
  • Patent number: 5407188
    Abstract: A classifying tray apparatus is provided with a plurality of sheet end receiving rollers for arranging each rear end portion of the sheets stacked on a sheet discharge tray. Each sheet end receiving roller stands rotatably on a main body of the classifying tray apparatus so as to rotate, in accordance with the horizontal movement of the sheet discharge tray in a direction perpendicular to a discharge direction, while being in contact with the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray or with the sheet discharge tray, thereby avoiding the unevenness of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Ida, Naoya Okamura
  • Patent number: 5405128
    Abstract: A highly reliable sheet feed device for a copier, facsimile apparatus, printer or similar image forming apparatus and having a plurality of sheet storing portions which are arranged substantially horizontally and serially in an intended direction of sheet transport. The device surely feeds sheets from the storing portions one by one and eliminate sheet jams and defective sheet feed. Further, the device is simple and miniature and capable of accommodating a plurality of kinds of sheets therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kunio Hibi, Katsumi Kurihara, Hiroshi Tanabe, Masanori Matsuda, Takahiro Shinga, Satoshi Takanashi
  • Patent number: 5400898
    Abstract: A conveying system has at least two equidistant conveyor chains. In order that the chain links of the conveyor chains also move synchronously on conveying path portions in which the radii of curvature of the individual chain paths differ from one another, the chain link spacings can be adapted by corresponding control means to the ratio of the radii of curvature of the individual chain paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Bruno Weber
  • Patent number: 5398931
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved automated dispensing apparatus for flat paper object, such as ATM (Automated Teller Machines) or CD (Cash Dispensers), which can enhance the working efficiency and the service for customers. According to this apparatus, inner cassette 5 can be drawn out together with intermediate portion pushing member 12 leaving outer cassette 4 at a fixed position in the dispenser main body. While intermediate portion pushing member 12 is filled with supplementary sheet papers, the sheet papers 8 still remaining in outer cassette 4 are kept to be pushed by end portion pushing members 11a, 11b. Thereafter, when inner cassette 5 is returned into outer cassette 4, both the end portion pushing members 11a, 11b and the intermediate portion pushing member 12 are returned to the initial state for dispensing a new pile of sheet papers 8 including the supplementary ones. During that supplementation, the sheet paper dispensing operation by this apparatus can be continued without any interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Toyo Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Tohgoh
  • Patent number: 5398922
    Abstract: A feeder system for a mail sorter includes a feed conveyor which receives a plurality of items of mail. A singulation station removes the items in a singulated manner from the discharge end of the feed conveyor and transfers each item to a delivery station. The delivery station includes a plurality of vertically mounted belts which are movable in the transverse direction for delivering the items to the mail sorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Tritek Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Malatesta
  • Patent number: 5397119
    Abstract: In apparatus for feeding respective sheets including framework and a deck mounted thereon for supporting a plurality of sheets in an upright stack thereof, wherein the deck defines a path of travel for respective lowermost sheets to be fed from the stack, and the stack has an upstream end and a downstream end, an improvement for facilitating feeding lowermost sheets from the stack, the improvement comprising a platform connected to the framework, the platform including a base wall portion having a longitudinal length extending upstream from the upstream end of the deck; a stack supporting member, the member including an upright upper wall portion having a lower end, the member including a lower wall portion extending upstream from the upper wall portion's lower end and forming therewith an elongate downstream marginal edge having a wedge-shaped transverse cross-section; and structure for adjustably mounting the stack supporting member on the platform, the mounting structure including first structure for movin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Brewster, Jr., Thomas M. Helit, Paul R. Sette, Walter Wolog
  • Patent number: 5397107
    Abstract: Apparatus for feeding respective sheets from a stack thereof comprising structure for supporting a plurality of sheets in an upright stack thereof, the supporting structure including an upright wall, the supporting structure including a deck extending beneath the wall and defining a path of travel for respective sheets fed from the stack, the deck extending transverse to the path of travel; structure for successively feeding respective sheets downstream in the path of travel, the feeding structure including opposed outfeed rollers downstream of the upright wall, the feeding structure including an elongate first roller longitudinally extending transverse to the path of travel upstream of the upright wall, the feeding structure including an elongate second roller longitudinally extending transverse to the path of travel upstream of the fist roller, the feeding structure including structure for driving the outfeed and first and second rollers; structure for controlling the driving structure, and the controlling
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Wolog, Thomas M. Helit, William H. Brewster, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5395102
    Abstract: A paper sheet feeding apparatus includes a driving motor having a driving gear rotatable in forward and reverse directions, a first driven gear engaged with the driving gear and rotating only in the forward direction, a second driven gear having a different number of teeth than the first driven gear and rotatable only in the reverse direction, a pick-up roller, driven by rotation of the first or second driven gear, for picking up paper sheets, a paper sheet feeding roller for feeding paper sheets picked up by the pick-up roller, a separating roller for separating, one by one, paper sheets which are supplied from the paper sheet feeding roller, and a resist roller for aligning the paper sheets supplied from the paper sheet feeding roller. The speed of the paper sheet feeding apparatus can be changed in accordance with the speed of an image forming apparatus to which the paper sheet feeding apparatus is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takeshi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 5392924
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process and plant for cleaning unwashed clay/sand or oil sands in which a vessel having a false floor of permeable material contains a column of liquid and sand to be cleaned in which an air and liquid mix is injected through the permeable material at a controlled pressure so that the air, water and sand clay mixture will mix together to fluidise the sand with the presence of small bubbles of air to create a turbulence and abrasion of the particles and to clean the sand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Little River Pastoral Co. Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: David H. Hume
  • Patent number: 5393043
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is coupled to a paper supply mechanism formed of a plurality of paper supply units storing papers, the plurality of paper supply units being arranged in a predetermined order along a paper feed path and papers being ejected one by one from each of the plurality of paper supply units to the paper feed path, the papers being fed to the image forming apparatus so that images are formed on the papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Horoshi Nitta
  • Patent number: 5386983
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet support for supporting sheets, a rotatable sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet support, a first biasing mechanism for biasing the sheet support to generate pressure between the sheets and the rotatable sheet supply roller, a separating device for separating the sheets between the separating device and the rotatable sheet supply roller, a second biasing mechanism for biasing the separating device to generate pressure between the separating device and the rotatable sheet supply roller and a pressure releasing mechanism for releasing the pressures generated by the first and second biasing mechanisms after the sheets are separated by the separating device. The present invention further provides an image forming system with the above-mentioned sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming mechanism for forming an image on the sheet separated by the separating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Ando
  • Patent number: 5381887
    Abstract: An inventive roller and an inventive conveyor assembly which includes at least one such roller. The inventive roller comprises: an axle housing; a polymer foam segment positioned around the axle housing; and a polymer coating which covers the exterior of the polymer foam segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Elastomer Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Orlin W. Emmons
  • Patent number: 5375834
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking cards, printed sheets or similar products has feeder stations situated in a row and a conveyor with pushers. The feeder stations include spaced inner and outer tables. Individual products are deposited on the tables at the feeder stations. The inner tables are provided with lateral stops and a plurality of nozzles which emerge from the upper surface at a shallow angle towards the stop. Compressed air emitted from these nozzles creates a suction force which stabilizes the products on the tables. The pushers extend between the tables and push the product through a cut-out in the outer table onto a stack of products moving in synchronization on the conveyor below the tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Horst Rathert