Patents by Inventor Christopher Julius Stefan

Christopher Julius Stefan 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: 6536756
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion, which is fitted with a resilient pad, which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Julius Stefan, Eric A. Belec, John J. Mercede, Jr., James A. Salomon, Steven A. Supron, Shae Lynn Wilson, Leo Wologodzew, Anthony E. Yap
  • Patent number: 6435498
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion which is fitted with a resilient pad which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: PItney Bowes, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Julius Stefan, Eric A. Belec, John J. Mercede, Jr., James A. Salomon, Steven A. Supron, Shae Lynn Wilson, Leo Wologodzew, Anthony E. Yap
  • Publication number: 20020060418
    Abstract: In a device for processing documents being transported therethrough along a document feed path, an aligner apparatus comprising: first and second guide walls, each guide wall positioned parallel to the document feed path and facing the other guide wall forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path, the guide walls forming a plurality of openings, each opening in the first guide wall being in alignment with an opening in the second guide wall; and a trap assembly comprising first and second trap levers, each trap lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall opposite the document feed path, each trap lever received by one of the plurality of openings in the guide walls and each trap lever opposing the other trap lever and positioned to, when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path i
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher Julius Stefan, Eric A. Belec, John J. Mercede, James A. Salomon, Steven A. Supron, Shae Lynn Wilson, Leo Wologodzew, Anthony E. Yap
  • Publication number: 20020060419
    Abstract: In a device for processing documents being transported therethrough along a document feed path, an aligner apparatus comprising: first and second guide walls, each guide wall positioned parallel to the document feed path and facing the other guide wall forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path, the guide walls forming a plurality of openings, each opening in the first guide wall being in alignment with an opening in the second guide wall; and a trap assembly comprising first and second trap levers, each trap lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall opposite the document feed path, each trap lever received by one of the plurality of openings in the guide walls and each trap lever opposing the other trap lever and positioned to, when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path i
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher Julius Stefan, Eric A. Belec, John J. Mercede, James A. Salomon, Steven A. Supron, Shae Lynn Wilson, Leo Wologodzew, Anthony E. Yap
  • Patent number: 6328300
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aligner apparatus which bottom edge aligns documents and separates documents and provides adequate gap between documents for subsequent processing. The an aligner apparatus includes first and second guide walls, forming an alley along the document feed path in which the documents are relieved of interdocument forces allowing bottom edge alignment of the documents with the document feed path. A trap assembly including first and second trap levers is lever mounted along the document feed path on a side of the guide wall and when actuated, cause opposing forces on one-another in order to grab the documents as they move along the feed path in the aligner apparatus so as to control the gap between the documents. It apparatus further provides an adequate gap between documents while reducing noise. Each trap lever has a head portion which is fitted with a resilient pad which is attached to the trap arm in a manner that forms a gap between the head and the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Julius Stefan, Eric A. Belec, John J. Mercede, Jr., James A. Salomon, Steven A. Supron, Shae Lynn Wilson, Leo Wologodzew, Anthony E. Yap