Patents Examined by Eugene Eickholt
  • Patent number: 6290410
    Abstract: A modular duplex media handling system used in conjunction with a simplex media handling print recording apparatus, includes a drive roller having a simple gear linkage. The simple gear linkage provides a fixed rotational relationship between the drive roller and a feed roller of the simplex handling apparatus. A media guide pivots about the drive roller's axle between a first position into which it is biased, and a second position into which it is deflected by a media sheet. From the first position, a media sheet retracting from a print zone can enter the duplex media handling system. From the second position, a media sheet can move from the input tray around the feed roller into the print zone, or move out of the duplex media handling system back into the input tray to await refeeding for second side printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Craig D. Sunada, Carl D. Beckett, Kevin D. O'Hara, Jeffrey R. Blackman
  • Patent number: 6286424
    Abstract: A plastic mask unit for paste printing, which is capable of performing paste printing with superior quality for a relatively large number of times over a long life span, and also a method of fabricating the above-mentioned plastic mask unit. The plastic mask unit includes a mask frame and a plastic mask plate which is secured directly to the mask frame. The plastic mask plate can be formed with a plurality of slit-shaped through-holes for serving as a print pattern for paste printing, either before or after the plastic mask plate is secured directly to the mask frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Microelectronics Co.,
    Inventor: Makoto Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 6286428
    Abstract: A method for printing packaging parts which constitute a part of a continuous web of foil 1, in that the individual packaging parts 2 lie at a distance from each other and are in connection with each other via the foil, whereby the continuous web of foil with the packaging parts is fed forward to a printing section B, where the printing of the packaging parts 2 is effected with print-pads 10, and each printing cycle comprises a packaging part or several packaging parts lying parallel and at the side of each other with a distance between them, and the position of the parts being sensed at an entrance to the printing station, a controller receiving a signal from the position sensor and calculating an amount of movement for precisely positioning the packaging parts for printing, and controlling a drive for the foil web to assure that the packaging parts are moved to the calculated position for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Erik Hougaard Madsen
  • Patent number: 6287031
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to printing bar codes and other indicia on articles, and relates specifically to printing postage on mail pieces by means of ink-jet printing on the adhesive side of transparent adhesive tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael B Willis
  • Patent number: 6283019
    Abstract: In a method for engraving printing cylinders for rotogravure in an electronic engraving machine, at least two engraving lanes with predetermined lane widths lying side-by-side in an axial direction of the printing cylinder are engraved with a respectively allocated engraving element. Before the engraving, an axial reference position is predetermined for each engraving element, the axial spacings thereof relative to one another corresponding to the predetermined lane widths of the engraving lanes. The engraving elements are roughly positioned to their reference positions. Subsequently, the axial spacing errors between the reference positions and the actual position of the engraving element the rough positions are measured. During engraving, the engraving elements are moved along the printing cylinder with the faulty spacings relative to one another caused by their rough positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Heinrich Fritz Dölves
  • Patent number: 6283020
    Abstract: The stencil printing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a stencil making section for perforating each stencil sheet with a desired image pattern, a porous structure printing drum incorporating an ink supply mechanism and coming to have a stencil sheet perforated in the stencil making section to be wound thereon, a sheet supply section for supplying print sheets, a roller for pinching the print sheet supplied from the sheet supply section between the printing drum and itself, and time counting means for counting the rest time of the stencil printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Ohno
  • Patent number: 6279890
    Abstract: A printing press having a jaw mode assembly and a rotary mode assembly with a single folding cylinder adapted to feed either the jaw mode assembly or the rotary mode assembly is disclosed. A moving web of material is initially trained about the folding cylinder and cut into a signatures which are then temporarily held on the folding cylinder. A folding blade extends from the folding cylinder to initiate a fold in each signature and direct each signature to either the jaw mode assembly or the rotary mode assembly. The timing of the folding blade is coordinated and adjusted using an indexable spider assembly to feed either the jaw mode assembly or the rotary mode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Tomczak
  • Patent number: 6280104
    Abstract: A configuration for depositing media, particularly envelopes, transported in a franking and/or addressing machine standing on edge and butting against an inclined guide plate. The configuration is disposed downstream of the franking machine and includes a single-piece insert laterally attached and releasably coupled to the franking machine and an angled depositing box. A depositing box front wall is laterally and slidably coupled to the insert through a slit. The insert has a channel to receive recording media travelling on edge from the franking machine. The channel has a nose at an upstream end and formed as a slanting plane sloping downward in the travelling direction and projecting beyond a side of the insert and into the franking machine guide plane, and a supporting plate at an upstream end and a rear region adapted to a guide plate inclination. The depositing box has three slopes having a wedge-shaped cross-section that is bent on one side and defining a depositing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co.
    Inventors: Dietrich Müller, Wolfgang Von Inten
  • Patent number: 6276267
    Abstract: A printing system comprises a printer for conducting stencil making and printing, a finisher such as a sorter for receiving and holding printed sheets discharged from the printer and aligning the received printed sheets, and control means for starting stencil making in the printer without waiting for the finisher to finish aligning the printed sheets. The control means is preferably responsive to completion of printed sheet insertion in the finisher for substantially simultaneously starting the stencil making operation in the printer and the aligning operation in the finisher. The printing system enables a reduction in overall printing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Hideharu Yoneoka
  • Patent number: 6272984
    Abstract: A squeegee for use in screen printing, including a flexible portion, and one separation or two separations extending from a contact edge of the flexible portion for contact with a screen, toward a base portion of the squeegee, thereby at least partly separating the flexible portion, so that the flexible portion includes a first portion between the one separation and a lateral edge of the flexible portion, or between the two separations, and a second portion different from the first portion, and so that the first portion and the second portion are flexible independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizi Kato, Hiroshi Tsuta
  • Patent number: 6270067
    Abstract: An apparatus for slowing down products in the folder of rotary printing machines. A product-directing system is arranged between the jaw cylinder and paddle wheel, and a driven decelerating-roller pair is integrated into the product-directing system. In order to provide an apparatus which can be adjusted in a straightforward manner and ensures that the products are slowed in a functionally reliable manner upstream of the paddle wheel, the circumference of the decelerating rollers is equal to at least one product length, and the decelerating-roller pair is driven at a non-uniform speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Bergmann, Ralf Werner
  • Patent number: 6270270
    Abstract: A printing apparatus has a small size that facilitates replacement of rolled paper, removal of jammed paper, etc., and alleviates the likelihood of a paper jam with a considerably simple structure. The printing apparatus comprises a rolled-paper holder (2), which is provided with a first holder (2b) for use in carrying out printing on rolled paper (1), and a second holder (2a) for use in setting the rolled paper (1). The rolled paper (1) is moved from the second holder (2a) to the first holder (2b) as a main body of the apparatus is shifted from a paper setting position to a printing work position, thereby facilitating the setting of the rolled paper (1) and removal of jammed paper, since the rolled paper (1) can be temporarily supported by the second holder (2a) in order to provide sufficient work space when replacing the rolled paper (1) or removing jammed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumine Koshi, Noriyuki Saito, Tohru Arakawa, Masaru Shimizu, Keita Sakai, Masaaki Matsui, Toshio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6267366
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering signatures to a binding line, the apparatus and method preferably comprising a printer feeder apparatus and method for providing personalized information in a variety of locations upon a selected one of a plurality of signatures types before the signatures are fed to the binding line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres
  • Patent number: 6267522
    Abstract: A media holding apparatus includes a tray having a support surface configured to receive media and a media stop carried by the tray. The media stop is movably supported for continuously adjustable positioning relative to the tray to conform dimensionally with media received in the tray. The apparatus also includes a position-detecting sensor associated with the tray and the media stop which is operative to generate a unique electrical pattern corresponding with a detected position of the media stop relative to the tray. The unique electrical pattern is indicative of the size of the media detected in the tray. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Jamison B. Slippy, Robert W. Jewell, Paul R. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6267520
    Abstract: On printer (20), tape cartridge (4) is detachable relative to mounting unit (5). Mounting unit (5) is covered by cover (22). When cover (22) is closed, its protrusion (51) rotates rotary component (54), and its operating edge (54b) moves moving component (55). When operating edge (54b) moves over the top edge of surface A of guiding surface (55a) of the moving component, the cover is completely closed. Subsequently, rotary component (54) is guided to surface B, where it is held in a coupled state. In conjunction with moving component (55), head carrier component (59) rotates, and head (6) located at the tip of the head carrier component becomes fixed at the print position. In the condition in which a print position is formed, rotary component (54) is off from protrusion (51) of the cover. Therefore, no load acts from the side of head (6) onto the side of cover (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Teruhiko Unno, Akira Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6264384
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-functional apparatus having a small size. The multi-functional apparatus according to the present invention includes a body including a section for transferring a recordable paper and a service station formed at an outside of the recordable paper transferring section; a guide mounted along an entire width of the body in a vertical direction to be normal to a recordable paper transferring direction; and a carriage which has a printhead and a scanner module mounted thereon and moves reciprocally along the guide to be across the recordable paper transferring section, the carriage being positioned in the service station when a scanning or printing operation is normally completed, wherein the scanner module is mounted on the carriage to be adjacent to the recordable paper transferring section with reference to the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jun Lee, Seong-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 6261013
    Abstract: A portable printer comprising a door pivotally coupled to a main body of the portable printer at a back end, a printing medium roller support rotatably mounted on the door of the portable printer, a platen rotatably positioned at a front end of the door, a door locking mechanism having a pair of door locking latches respectively positioned at opposite ends of the platen, a roller movably and rotatably coupled to the door locking mechanism and positioned parallel to the platen, a pair of levers movably coupled to the door locking mechanism for pressing the roller against the platen when the door is closed to the main body, a support frame positioned within the main body, a print head pivotally coupled to the support frame, a pair of coil springs coupled between the print head and the support frame such that the print head is essentially floating against the support frame, a body locking mechanism having a pair of body locking latches for latching with respective door locking latches, a gear system coupled to t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Eltron International, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Bryer, Steve Chillscyzn, Caleb Bryant
  • Patent number: 6261012
    Abstract: A printer for printing information on images on a substrate such as an identification card in multiple colors has an intermediate transfer film or web on which a reverse image is printed. The printer has a lamination station where the image is transferred to a substrate, such as an identification card. The intermediate transfer film or web is moved back and forth, the intermediate transfer film or web has slack occurring in it between the printing station and the lamination station. The slack is taken up with spring loaded rollers to permit operation of the printer head and the lamination station at the same time. Additionally, the printer is made into modules that are movable for easy access to interior components and to expose film or web paths that permits installing both the print film or web and the intermediate transfer film or web without threading it through enclosed openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Fargo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren W. Haas, Robert E. Francis, Gary B. Fulmer, Thomas J. Reynolds-Kotz, Brent D. Lien, John P. Skoglund, Matthew K. Dunham, Gary M. Klinefelter
  • Patent number: 6259884
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing individual sheets gathers the sheets in groups and feeds the sheets past a printer unit. Paper paths are provided in two ring shapes and two printers are provided to permit printing on one side in one color, both sides in one color, one side in two colors and two sides in two colors or one color on one side and two colors on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Oberhoffner
  • Patent number: 6257135
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for continuously embossing a moving web of material. More particularly, the present invention is a unitary saddle used to mount multiple embossing slugs to an emboss roll. The unitary saddle of the present invention improves slug alignment and thereby reduces the time the converting operation must be shut down for roll maintenance or the pattern changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventor: Howard L. Dorton, Jr.