Patents Examined by Leslie A. Nicholson, III
-
Patent number: 11447359Abstract: Signage packs for retail store shelves are compiled with a continuous belt pusher system having multiple pushers that allow accumulated set signage packs to be collated and pushed to a downstream transport system that forwards them for the application of hot-melt adhesive to an edge of each pack while simultaneously eliminating printer skipped pitches.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: XEROX CORPORATIONInventors: Douglas K Herrmann, Hans Franklin Case
-
Patent number: 11444560Abstract: A drive controller includes a first drive circuit, a first capacitance element and a first processing part and a second processing part. The first drive circuit supplies a current output from a power source to a first load. The first capacitance element is connected to a power supply path between the power source and the first drive circuit. The first processing part is configured to apply a charge from the power source and to charge the first capacitance element before power supply to the first load is started. The second processing part is configured to supply a current output from the power source and a current corresponding to a charge charged in the first capacitance element to the first load through the first drive circuit after the first capacitance element is charged.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Yoji Isogai
-
Patent number: 11440761Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet conveying device includes a tray and a correcting member. On the tray, a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are overlapped is stacked in a thickness direction of the sheet bundle. The correcting member moves relative to the tray in the thickness direction. The correcting member abuts against an upper layer portion of an outer peripheral portion of the sheet bundle on the tray, and presses the upper layer portion from an outside after abutting. The correcting member corrects a position of the upper layer portion in a lateral direction intersecting the thickness direction toward an inside from the outside of the sheet bundle.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yasuhiro Sakai
-
Patent number: 11441642Abstract: A reduction assembly, attachable to a torque limiting device, comprising a drive shaft having an input segment, an eccentric segment, and an output segment, wherein the input segment and the output segment each have a centerline running along a same first axis, and wherein the eccentric segment has a center line running along a second axis, the second axis being parallel to the first axis and positioned a first distance away from the first axis. The assembly further comprising a disk assembly having a disk with a body, a plurality of lobes positioned concentrically on the body, and an opening extending through the body, the opening configured to slidably engage the eccentric segment of the drive shaft. The assembly further comprising a disk receptacle configured to engage with the disk, the receptacle having a floor and a wall with a plurality of protrusions extending from the wall, wherein the number of the plurality of protrusions is equal to one more than the number of the plurality of lobes on the disk.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: ECA Medical InstrumentsInventor: David A. Tory
-
Patent number: 11440764Abstract: A sheet discharge apparatus includes a discharge unit configured to discharge a sheet in a discharge direction, a stacking surface configured to stack the sheet discharged by the discharge unit, and a wall including a plurality of hole portions and an abutting part, wherein the plurality of hole portions includes a first hole portion disposed across an extension line along the stacking surface when viewed in a width direction, the first hole portion including a first edge portion and a second edge portion, the first edge portion being positioned on a side of the stacking surface, and wherein, in the vertical direction, an upper end of the first edge portion of the first hole portion is positioned above the extension line, and a lower end of the first edge portion of the first hole portion is positioned below the extension line.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Junichi Sekiyama
-
Patent number: 11433636Abstract: Disclosed is a device for folding sheets, the device provided with two transport belts positioned opposite each other in such a way that sheets can be clamped between the transport belts with the exception of a protruding part that protrudes between the transport belts, whereby the device is provided with two slats that extend along the transport belts and between which the protruding part can slide so a strip protrudes between the slats, whereby the device is also provided with one or more folding elements along the transport belts that can fold the abovementioned strip over or around a slat to form a fold line and whereby the device is such that it guides the sheets with their strip along the folding elements and the slats by the driver of the transport belts.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: PELEMAN INDUSTRIES, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAPInventors: Guido Frans M Peleman, Maarten Luc C. Hennissen
-
Patent number: 11427426Abstract: A sorting device is mounted, in an image forming apparatus, in a sheet discharge space open at its front and sheet-discharge-direction downstream side, insertably or extractably at the downstream side. The sorting device includes a base portion, a tray portion, and a flexible member. The base portion is mounted, with the tray portion, in the base portion. The base portion has, in its upstream part in sheet discharge direction, a base inclined portion inclined upward downstream. With the base portion mounted in the bottom portion, the base inclined portion faces, across a predetermined gap, a bottom inclined surface inclined upward downstream in discharge direction. The tray portion is supported on the base portion to be reciprocatable in sheet width direction orthogonal to discharge direction. The flexible member is fitted to the base inclined portion and fills the gap between the base inclined portion and the bottom inclined surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Tomoyasu Yamada
-
Patent number: 11427417Abstract: An image forming device includes a device body; a conveyance table that is inserted into and pulled out of the device body and that forms a conveyance path for a sheet; a sheet mount tray; a paper feeder that feeds the sheet from the sheet mount tray to the conveyance path; and a movable support that movably supports the paper feeder on the conveyance table in a state where the conveyance table is pulled out of the device body. The paper feeder covers a predetermined part of the conveyance path in a state where the paper feeder disposed on the conveyance table is inserted into the device body, the sheet mount tray is disposed in the device body and separates from the paper feeder when the conveyance table is pulled out of the device body, and the paper feeder moves away from the predetermined part.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Shiokawa
-
Patent number: 11427427Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a discharge unit, a stacking portion on which discharged sheets are stacked, a lifting unit, and first and second abutting portions. The lifting unit lifts and lowers the stacking portion. The first abutting portion abuts a trailing end of the stacked sheets in a sheet discharge direction. The first abutting portion does not move in an up-down direction. The second abutting portion abuts the stacked sheets trailing end. The first abutting portion supports the second abutting portion such that the second abutting portion is movable in the up-down direction. If the stacking portion is lowered from a first to a second position below the first position, the second abutting portion does not move in accordance with the stacking portion. If the stacking portion is further lowered beyond the second position, the second abutting portion moves in accordance with the stacking portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Haruki Ishibashi, Kazuhiko Aono
-
Patent number: 11420842Abstract: A system and method for assembling booklets in document finishers such as saddle staplers includes first and second opposed rollers configured to receive an edge of a stapled crease of a stack of printed documents. The rollers apply both heat and pressure to the crease to form a tight fold. A second set of rollers provides further heat and pressure to the fold to increase tightness even further. Pressure and temperature of one or both roller sets is controllable to accommodate paper stacks having different numbers of pages or different paper characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKIInventors: William M. Connors, Michael W. Lawrence, Brad W. Towe
-
Patent number: 11420841Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a housing, a fence, a first distance measurement sensor, and a second distance measurement sensor. The fence is movable in a fence moving direction on the housing and is configured to regulate a position of an end of a sheet. The first distance measurement sensor is configured to measure a distance between the fence and a first portion of the housing, the first portion being on one side of the housing with respect to the fence in the fence moving direction. The second distance measurement sensor is configured to measure a distance between the fence and a second portion of the housing, the second portion being on another side of the housing with respect to the fence in the fence moving direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Ebihara
-
Patent number: 11414294Abstract: Folder systems and related methods are provided for accurately and efficiently folding a paper carrier that has a card attached without bending or dislodging the card from the carrier. A movable fold chute receives a portion of the carrier with the card attached and allows the carrier to fold while protecting the card portion of the carrier. The fold chute moves between different positions which allow the carrier to enter and exit through folding rollers along a generally straight paper path without forcing the cards around small radii, thereby preventing damage to the cards or causing them to separate from the carrier sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: DMT Solutions Global CorporationInventors: Brad Swinford, Robert J. Allen
-
Patent number: 11414293Abstract: The present invention is to provide an image forming system including a sheet folding processing apparatus and a sheet pressing apparatus capable of performing additional folding processing without decreasing productivity. The sheet pressing apparatus of the present invention includes a pressing roller including a pressing surface configured to press a fold line part of a folding processed sheet conveyed from a carry-in port in a thickness direction of the sheet and a guide portion configured to guide the folding processed sheet so that the fold line part is positioned at the pressing surface, a nipping member configured to nip the fold line part between the pressing surface and the nipping member, a first moving unit configured to move the pressing roller to a nipping position at which the fold line part is nipped between the nipping member and the pressing surface of the pressing roller and a retracting position.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.Inventors: Shogo Iwai, Hiroki Komada
-
Patent number: 11414292Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a pair of sheet holders, a sheet leading-edge aligner, a sheet stacking member, and control circuitry. A downstream side of the pair of sheet holders in a conveyance direction of a conveyed sheet is lowered along the conveyance direction. Each one of the pair of sheet holders is movable in an orthogonal direction to the conveyance direction. The pair of sheet holders hold both side-end portions of the sheet in the orthogonal direction. The sheet stacking member is disposed below the pair of sheet holders. A downstream side of the sheet stacking member in the conveyance direction is lowered along the conveyance direction. The sheet stacking member stacks the sheet dropped from the pair of sheet holders after a leading edge of the sheet is aligned by the leading-edge aligner. The control circuitry controls operations of the leading-edge aligner and the pair of sheet holders.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Takamasa Matsumoto
-
Patent number: 11413899Abstract: A brochure is made by folding a single sheet of paper along a plurality of parallel longitudinal fold lines to make an interim piece. The interim piece is conveyed in the direction of the longitudinal fold lines, and folded in a right-angle direction transverse to the first direction, along transverse fold lines perpendicular to the longitudinal fold lines. A pouch is placed inside of the interim piece without adhesive, as the interim piece is folded, and the interim piece is sealed to complete the brochure. The pouch is preferably placed over one of the transverse fold lines. A label can be applied to the brochure if desired.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: The Challenge Printing CompanyInventor: Kevin Thies
-
Patent number: 11401998Abstract: An actuator is provided, in which second support shafts are protruded to an output shaft side in an axial direction of a second planetary carrier. A power transmission member having convex portions which are protruded radially outward and receive rotation forces from the second support shafts are arranged on a second planetary carrier side of the output shaft in the axial direction. An elastic member is arranged between the second support shafts and the convex portions in a rotation direction of the output shaft. Therefore, the rotation force of the second planetary carrier due to rotation drive of an electric motor is transmitted from the second support shafts to the convex portions of the power transmission member via the elastic member.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: MITSUBA CorporationInventors: Takashi Takizawa, Naoya Takeuchi
-
Patent number: 11396443Abstract: A drive system (8) for a belt-driven people conveyor (2) is provided which includes a drive motor (10) arranged to drive an input shaft (16); a belt drive pulley (12) for driving a drive belt (6); and a gear system (20) arranged to couple the input shaft (16) to the belt drive pulley (12) such that there is a speed reduction from the input shaft (16) to the belt drive pulley (12). The gear system (20) comprises an output gear (40) directly connected to or formed integrally with the belt drive pulley (12) and at least part of the gear system (20) is located within the belt drive pulley (12).Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANYInventors: Thomas Illedits, Alexander Turek
-
Patent number: 11390482Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyance portion, a punching member, a punching member moving portion, a position detection portion, and a controller. In a case of performing a punching process on a preceding sheet and a succeeding sheet successively conveyed to a predetermined position, the controller is configured to execute preliminary movement after the punching process on the preceding sheet is finished and before an end portion position of the succeeding sheet in a sheet width direction that coincides with a first punching position of the succeeding sheet in a conveyance direction reaches the position detection portion. The first punching position is a position where the punching process is first performed on the succeeding sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahiro Endo
-
Patent number: 11383951Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for performing binding processing for a sheet bundle formed from a plurality of sheets, comprises: an application unit configured to apply a liquid to a sheet wherein the application unit applies the liquid to an outermost sheet of the sheet bundle, and a static surface tension of the liquid is lower than a static surface tension of water; and a binding processing unit configured to bind the sheet bundle, without using a staple, wherein the binding processing unit includes a pair of groups of pressurizing teeth, and the pressurizing teeth clamp and pressurize the sheet bundle. In the sheet bundle, a liquid application region which is applied with the liquid and a pressurizing region which is pressurized by the pressurizing teeth are provided to overlap each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.Inventor: Masato Kawakami
-
Patent number: 11370631Abstract: A sheet post-processor includes a processing tray, a sheet discharge port, a discharge roller pair, a pair of cursor members, a pair of support members, and an interlocking mechanism. The interlocking mechanism includes a pair of coupling members arranged in the processing tray so as to be reciprocatable in a sheet width direction. The pair of coupling members are coupled to or decoupled from the pair of cursor members in accordance with movement of the pair of cursor members. While being coupled to the pair of cursor members, the pair of coupling members contact the pair of support members so as to displace the pair of support members to a protruding position, and while being decoupled from the pair of cursor members, the pair of coupling members separate from the pair of support members so as to displace the pair of support members to a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Terumitsu Noso