Patents Examined by Dave A. Ghatt
  • Device for printing on paper tape and for cutting the tape into printed tickets
    Patent number: 6599044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printer device for printing on a paper tape and for cutting the tape into printed tickets. The device comprises a frame having a cover hinged on the frame, a printer, cutter means, and guide means for guiding the tape between the printer and the cutter means. According to the invention, the guide means are formed by two walls substantially parallel to the axis of a paper drive roller, one wall being carried by the cover and the other wall being carried by the frame, in such a manner as to impose an S-bend on the portion of the tape that extends between the printer and the cutter means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Axiohm
    Inventor: Eric Paris
  • Printer cartridge having a foam retention clip
    Patent number: 6595711
    Abstract: An ink printer cartridge is provided wherein ink is stored in a foam reservoir situated within an ink chamber. The foam reservoir does not substantially fill the interior space of the ink chamber, and in particular does not contact the lid of the cartridge. The foam reservoir is retained in place by means of a clip which abuts the top of the foam reservoir. In an embodiment, the clip may compress the foam. A number of features of clip are disclosed, including particular arrangements for fitting into the cartridge, and adjustments as to height and width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Legacy Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Brandan Hill
  • Printing unit with automatically moveable tail tucker bar
    Patent number: 6595135
    Abstract: A printing unit having a tucker bar capable of tucking a tail edge of a printing plate into an axially-extending gap of a plate cylinder and a tucker bar control device for automatically moving the tucker bar from an operating position to a non-operating position so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap. In addition, a method of plating a plate cylinder using such a tucker bar control device to automatically move the tucker bar so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap of the plate cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: John Joseph Dowling, Daniel Paul Gagne, Brian Joseph Gentle
  • Serial printing device
    Patent number: 6595709
    Abstract: A serial printing device, comprising a fixed structure, a printing carriage on one side of the fixed structure able to slide along a printing line, and a contrasting element disposed on the other side of the fixed structure. A printing element is disposed on the printing carriage and is associated with a reference element able to contact the surface of the printing support. First elastic elements are disposed between the printing element and the printing carriage and second elastic elements are disposed between the contrasting element and the fixed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Compuprint SpA
    Inventor: Cosimo Cassiano
  • Device for braking sheets
    Patent number: 6591748
    Abstract: A sheet-braking device for a sheet-processing machine includes a plurality of brake modules with a revolving suction belt formed with at least one suction opening. The brake modules have assigned thereto individual drives with controls for stipulating a reference speed relative to a speed of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Sven Kerpe, Michael Krüger
  • Membrane keyboard
    Patent number: 6585435
    Abstract: An improved membrane keyboard includes a bottom layer, a second conductive membrane layer located above the bottom layer having an output section extended from one end thereof at a selected location linking to an interrupt device, an insulation layer located above the second conductive membrane layer, a first conductive membrane layer located above the insulation layer, a top layer located above the first conductive membrane layer having a jutting section formed at one end with the top layer bonding to the bottom layer and forming an opening end at the jutting section, and a button key layer located between the first conductive membrane layer and the top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Jason Fang
  • Discharged sheet stacker of recording apparatus and recording apparatus provided with discharged sheet stacker
    Patent number: 6582139
    Abstract: A stacker on which a recording medium discharged from an outlet of a recoding apparatus is placed, is movable between a first position for closing the outlet and a second position for opening the outlet. A sheet receiving face receives the discharged recording medium, while being a first form when the stacker is placed in the first position, and being a second form when the stacker is placed in the second position. The sheet receiving face is formed with at least one aperture in an upstream end portion with regard to a sheet discharging direction. A holder supports the upstream end portion of the sheet receiving face. The holder includes at least one retainer engaged with the aperture so as to prevent the sheet receiving face from deforming upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mikinobu Abe, Mugio Kawasaki, Hirokazu Yamano
  • Polyvalent franking machine
    Patent number: 6579021
    Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for franking mailpieces or labels, comprising a base and a franking module connected to this base, the base comprising first transport means for conveying the mailpieces along a mailpiece-conveying path, from a mailpiece inlet towards said franking module, and second transport means for conveying the labels along a label-conveying path, from label dispensing means towards said franking module, the dispensing means comprising at least a first delivery roll for supplying a band of self-adhesive labels of linerless type. These dispensing means preferably further comprise a second delivery roll for supplying a band of self-adhesive labels of linerless type provided with transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Neopost Industrie
    Inventors: Xavier Deshayes, Arsène Paul
  • Print media handling system and printer having the same
    Patent number: 6572291
    Abstract: A print media handling system for feeding print media into a media inlet of a printer is disclosed. The print media handling system includes a media feeder for feeding print media along a media path towards the media inlet. At least one trimming element is disposed along the media path for trimming fed print media to a predetermined width prior to the print media entering the media inlet. A printer that includes a print media handling system described above is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wai Yuen Ho, Baskar Parthasarathy
  • Compliant carriage adjustment method and apparatus for setting default printhead-to-media- spacing in a printer
    Patent number: 6565272
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for adjusting and fixing default printhead-to-media spacing in a printer having a frame and a printhead-carrying carriage, the apparatus including an elongate, laterally extending carriage rod along which the carriage moves during printing, and selectively adjustable and fixable compliant structure mounting the rod on the frame, and operable to effect positional and fixable adjustment of the rod relative to the frame to establish a desired default printhead-to-media spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard A. Kelley, David Burton, Wade A. Powell, Elmer S. Cajigas
  • Sheet printing and discharging apparatus
    Patent number: 6565274
    Abstract: A diverter is integrated into a printer apparatus having a feed mechanism for feeding the sheet from a supply location through a printer mechanism to a collection location, and a presenter mechanism for drawing the sheet from the collection location to a discharge location. The diverter is pivotably mounted between the printer mechanism and the collection location so that the diverter is movable by contact of the sheet with a first surface of the diverter. The diverter is gravity-biased to a neutral position in which a second surface is aligned to receive the sheet from the collection location and direct the sheet to the presenter mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the diverter includes a generally triangular-shaped body, with a pivot axis and a center of gravity offset from the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Dale R. Lyons
  • Sheet material positioning method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6561097
    Abstract: In order to minimize the amount by which a sheet material must be moved for positioning, using a small number of sensors, and to achieve improvement of the operation and stabilization of the positioning accuracy, the size of the sheet material is recognized in advance, a sensor, which requires the smallest amount of movement of the sheet material for positioning the sheet material at a predetermined position, is selected from a plurality of sensors based on the recognized size, and the sheet material is detected by the selected sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Toyofuku
  • Delivery for a sheet processing machine, particularly for a sheet-fed printing machine
    Patent number: 6557468
    Abstract: The delivery for a sheet-processing machine, such as a sheet-fed rotary printing press, has several braking devices which are movable transverse to a sheet transport direction. The delivery also has a sheet guiding elements that respectively cover the interspaces between adjacent braking devices at a level of the top edges. The sheet guiding devices are formed from a flexible tape material. The length of the tape transverse to the direction of sheet transport and seen from above is adjustable to the spacing between the adjacent braking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Kelm, Richard Mack, Klaus Thome
  • Media cutter and slicer mechanism for a printer
    Patent number: 6554511
    Abstract: A printer for creating specialty-sized prints includes a printing mechanism, a cutter mechanism and a slicing mechanism. A media web or sheet is fed into the printer and is advanced by a media advancement mechanism in a media advancement direction. The cutter mechanism cuts the media transverse to the media advancement direction. The slicing mechanism slices the media parallel to the media advancement direction. The slicing mechanism includes a cam positioned on a camshaft and a slicer module. The slicer module is positioned adjacent the camshaft and includes a contact spring operatively spaced from the cam and a blade operatively spaced from the media. The media is sliced when an actuation mechanism rotates the camshaft so the cam pushes against the contact spring of the slicer module, which biases the blade against the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Co.
    Inventors: David M Kwasny, Melissa D. Boyd, Lawrence R Plotkin, George C Ross, Emily B. Winston
  • Inking device of rotary press
    Patent number: 6546864
    Abstract: An inking device of a rotary press comprises an ink fountain roller rotatably supported on left and right frames, and an ink fountain device movable toward and away from the ink fountain roller. The ink fountain device is switchable among a fixed position close to the ink fountain roller, a throw-off position separated from the ink fountain roller, and an intermediate position provided between the fixed position and the throw-off position, and switching means is provided for switching the ink fountain device by a pivoting operation of a locking handle so that the ink fountain device is located at any of the three positions. The inking device makes it easy to secure a vertical space for operating an ink fountain, and can fix the ink fountain device with a constant clamping force without a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Akehiro Kusaka
  • Printing press scraping blade
    Patent number: 6546861
    Abstract: A printing press ink scraping blade is disclosed. The ink scraping blade is of a unitary construction and includes a working end as well as a mounting end. The working end is preferably substantially thicker than the mounting end to provide substantially more material at the working end. As the scraping blade engages a scraping roller of a printing press, the blade is exposed to abrasive action and the additional material provided increases the serviceable life of the blade. To ensure that the blade maintains sufficient flexibility and deflection characteristics, the remainder or mounting end of the blade, is of a substantially reduced thickness. The blade may be manufactured from spring steel to further enhance flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Manser
  • Keyboard having keys arranged in a pan configuration
    Patent number: 6543947
    Abstract: A keyboard has an array of central keys positioned in a generally planar configuration and an array of inwardly-angled keys positioned around and angled toward the central keys to define a pan-like configuration. The keyboard may also comprise an array of outside keys positioned around the inwardly-angled keys. The keyboard may have one or more outwardly angled keys positioned around and angled away from the central keys. The outwardly angled keys are adapted to be accessible by a user's thumb, little finger or side of a hand. A keyboard, adapted for use with one hand, comprise four rows of five central keys forming a rectangular outer boundary. Two columns and two rows of 5 inwardly-angled keys surround the central keys. The character-key allocation of the pan-shaped keyboard adapted for use with one hand comprises the re-arrangement of the 3 main rows of 10 keys of a standard keyboard standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: José H. Lee
  • Printing plate automatic exposing device
    Patent number: 6536344
    Abstract: In a printing plate automatic exposing device, a vacuum pump and a pressure sensor are provided in communication with a detection hole provided in a surface plate. When a photopolymer plate is set on the surface plate, a degree of vacuum of the detection hole becomes a predetermined degree of vacuum due to operation of the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kawamura, Yoshihiro Koyanagi, Mitsuyoshi Nishimura, Takashi Kato
  • Paper feed unit
    Patent number: 6530706
    Abstract: A paper feed unit has a paper feed tray stacking sheets thereon, a primary paper feed roller and a secondary paper feed member, wherein an uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the paper feed tray is transferred toward the secondary paper feed member from the primary paper feed roller, a tip end of the sheet then contacts with the secondary paper feed member, and primary paper feed is then completed while the sheet is being bent. A counter rotation stop mechanism, which allows the primary paper feed roller to rotate in a paper feed direction but prevents the primary paper feed roller from rotating in a counter direction to the paper feed direction, and a rotation stop release mechanism, which releases a state in which the primary paper feed roller is prevented from rotating in the counter direction by the counter rotation stop mechanism, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sugimoto, Akitoshi Yoshida
  • Inking apparatus for printing press
    Patent number: 6516718
    Abstract: An inking apparatus for a printing press comprises upper and lower fountain rollers disposed and rotatably supported in respective ink fountain apparatuses; upper and lower ductor rollers supported to be rotatable in close proximity with the fountain rollers; and an ink mixing roller which is the furthest upstream ink roller to which ink is transferred from the upper and lower ductor rollers. In the inking apparatus, an intermediated metal roller and an intermediate rubber roller are provided between the ink mixing roller and at least one of the upper ductor roller and the lower ductor roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Kamoda, Masaki Yokoyama