Patents by Inventor Arno Ebner

Arno Ebner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6050470
    Abstract: In an apparatus (1) for stapling sheets (10) deposited in stacks, stapling devices (6 and 7) are attached to a pivotable support (3) which is movable from a locked operating position (position I) into an easily accessible service position (position II). The stapling devices (6 and 7) are attached in easily detachable fashion to holders (4 and 5) which are guided displaceably on the shaft (8) and can be set to different stapling positions by a follower mechanism. Attached releasably to each of the holders (4 and 5) is a mounting plate (44 and 45) on which the stapling devices (6 and 7), and all the components necessary for operation thereof, are releasably attached. The support (3) is movable into a position (position II) in which access is possible to the stapling devices (6 and 7) and the mounting plates (44 and 45) via a sheet stack depositing area (13) of the apparatus (1) which is accessible from outside the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Manfred Feesenmayr, Arno Ebner, Jurgen Ries
  • Patent number: 5862971
    Abstract: A stapling apparatus (1) has a stationary stapling head (9) and a counterbearing(13), fastened to a slider(4) and equipped with a clinching apparatus (14), that is fastened to slider (4). The slider (4) has parallel clamping surfaces (4d, 4e), associated with which are a clamping element (19), mounted in stationary pivotable fashion and having clamping jaws (19c, 19d) and edges (19e, 19f), that can be positioned by a torsion spring (21), pivotably about a bearing (19a), against the clamping surfaces (4d, 4e) of the slider (4). The clamping element (19) is spring-loaded opposite to a movement direction "B" of the slider (4). The pivot bearing (19a) of the clamping element (19) is arranged at a distance (r) from the slider (4) that is related by a ratio l/r<2 .mu., which effects self-locking, to the length (l) of the clamping jaws (19c, 19d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Arno Ebner
  • Patent number: 5738620
    Abstract: Pre-folding rollers and pinch rollers (1, 2 3, and 4) of identical diameter are arranged one behind the other in the folding direction (A) and rotatably mounted between two plates (5). A second pre-folding roller (2) and a second pinch roller (4) are stationarily and rotatably mounted on the plate (5). The first pre-folding roller (1) is rotatably mounted at both its ends with its bearings (1a) on lever arms (6) pivotably arranged on the plates (5). Connecting arms (7) are linked to the bearings (1a), on which arms the second pinch roller (3) is rotatably mounted on bearings (3a). The connecting arms (7) are loaded by springs (13) transverse to a folding direction and are in contact with fixed stops (8a and 10 respectively). The stops (8a and 10) are so positioned that the pre-folding and pinch rollers (1, 2 3, and 4) do not touch, so that the bearings (1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a respectively) are not subjected to load while no folding is in progress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Arno Ebner, Juregen Ries
  • Patent number: 5183195
    Abstract: A device for stapling sheets comprises a collecting tray (1) which is downwardly inclined to the direction of entrance "A" of sheets and has a support surface (2) and a pivotable abutment (3) associated with the front portion of the sheets. Between abutment (3) and support surface (2), a free space (6) is provided in which a stapling unit (10, 15) is movable for setting to a number of different stapling positions. The free space (6) is covered by a cover (9) in an area where no staples are to be applied. A tongue (7a) of a hold-down element (7) rests on the cover (9). Tongue (7a) and cover (9) extend into a recess (3a) of the abutment (3), with an upper limiter (3b) of recess (3a) being arranged above tongue (7a) and serving as an abutment for a limited pivotal movement of hold-down element (7, 7a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Franz Allmendinger, Arno Ebner, Helmut Ettischer, Timo Straub
  • Patent number: 5141143
    Abstract: A cam unit (3) with cams (3a, 3b and 3c) is mounted by journals (3d) directly on plastic housing portions (1 and 2). A bracket (5) which is actuated by cam (3a) is slidably arranged on one housing portion (2) together with a back-up (26) and a clincher unit (9, 10). A slider (8) shiftably mounted on bracket (5) actuates the clincher unit (9, 10) via a cam (3c). Another cam (3b) engages a sliding block (6) which operates a stapler (15 to 17). The entire stapling device is slidable along a driven profiled shaft (4) positively coupled with cam unit (3). The cams (3a, 3b, 3c) are designed such that, in relation to the journals (3d), two diametrically opposed force-transmitting cam sections of different cams (3a and 3b and 3c, respectively) each become effective at a time. Thus, a force of action in one direction, which is caused by one cam (3b and 3c, respectively), is counteracted by a force of reaction of equal strength in the other direction, which is caused by the other cam (3a and 3b, respectively).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Arno Ebner, Helmut Ettischer
  • Patent number: 5044618
    Abstract: A housing (1) includes an upper tray (7) for receiving sheets which are not to be stapled, a lower tray (8) for receiving sheet stacks (35) which are stapled and an inclined tray (29) arranged in between and adapted for collecting and stapling sheets. The collecting tray (29) is arranged in a relatively steeply inclined position with respect to a stapling station (39) located at its lower end so that sheets entering the collecting tray (29) slide under the sole action of gravity automatically down to a movable blocking member (33) which limits the collecting tray (29). The collecting tray (29) is part of an assembly unit (13) which comprises all transport and guiding elements for feeding the sheets which enter an entrance area (5) either to the upper tray (7) or the collecting tray (29). Moreover, the assembly unit (13) supports all means required for producing sheet stacks and feeding out the finished sheet stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Helmut Ettischer, Arno Ebner
  • Patent number: 4696615
    Abstract: In a supply magazine of a copying machine closed copy paper packages are arranged in stacked relation. The copy paper has been preconditioned by the manufacturer and provided with a packing that protects the preconditioning.Whenever the copy paper supply for the copying machine has to be refilled, one copy paper package is removed from the supply magazine and advanced to an unpacking device and opened.The unpacked copy paper stack is withdrawn from the opened packing by a withdrawing device and moved to a magazine.The magazine is associated with a sheet separating device which removes individual sheets and advances them to the copying station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Helmut Ettischer, Arno Ebner, Rolf Munz, Raimund Pollak