Patents by Inventor Richard Sloan
Richard Sloan 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).
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Patent number: 6702284Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Publication number: 20030189283Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for stacking mailpieces received from a mail-processing machine in consecutive order. There is a receiving conveying section positioned at a greater height than the following stacking conveying section. A stacking ramp extends from the downstream portion of the stacking conveying section. The receiving conveying section has a single continuous belt extending along the receiving conveying section in a first direction and positioned centrally along a second direction of the conveying section. The continuous belts of the stacking conveying section are positioned substantially at equal intervals extending along the first direction of the stacking conveying section and have top surfaces which extend above the stacking conveying section and which contact the mailpieces received from the mail processing machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: Pitney Bowes IncorporatedInventors: Richard A. Sloan, Paul R. Sette, Jeffrey T. Mulreed
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Patent number: 6612562Abstract: A media feed system with a self-contained propulsion system is provided. A singulator is used to feed a single media piece and a sensor determined when to disengage propulsion.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Pitney Dowes Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Sloan, Jr., Paul R. Sette, Linda L. Gale
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Patent number: 6588877Abstract: A method and system for printing specific print zones of a substrate is described. A bundled shuttle print head assembly is utilized to print desired print zones of a substrate in a single pass while the substrate is stationary in a stopped position.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Sloan, Jr., Paul R. Sette
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Publication number: 20030116903Abstract: A media feed system with a self-contained propulsion system is provided. A singulator is used to feed a single media piece and a sensor determined when to disengage propulsion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Sloan, Paul R. Sette, Linda L. Gale
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Publication number: 20030090536Abstract: A method and system for printing specific print zones of a substrate is described. A bundled shuttle print head assembly is utilized to print desired print zones of a substrate in a single pass while the substrate is stationary in a stopped position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventor: Richard A. Sloan
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Publication number: 20020163121Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: November 7, 2002Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan
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Patent number: 6464217Abstract: A method and device for reducing the maximum torque to rollers mounted on a drive shaft of a drive roller assembly. By using a plurality of slip clutches, each for engaging an individual roller to the drive shaft and setting a maximum torque for the individual rollers, each roller is coupled to the drive shaft when the tangential force exerted on the roller does not exceed the maximum torque, and each roller is mechanically decoupled from the drive shaft when the tangential force exerted on the roller exceeds the maximum torque. Because each roller has a separate slip clutch, each roller can be mechanically decoupled from the drive shaft without affecting the other rollers coupled to the drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1999Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Walter J. Kulpa, Wayne W. Pritchett, Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6464819Abstract: A method and apparatus for tabbing a piece of folded material with one or more tape feeders mounted on the apparatus. The tape feeder includes a roll of tape, a transporting mechanism for advancing the tape in order to release a fixed length section of the tape, wherein the released section partially extends below the traveling path of the folded material with the adhesive side facing the leading edge of the folded material, a V-shaped knife positioned above the traveling path and downstream from the released tape section, wherein the apparatus further comprises a moving mechanism to move the folded material further downstream so as to cause the released section of tape to contact and fold over the leading edge of the folded material. As the folded material moves further downstream, the released section of tape is separated by the V-shaped knife to form a tab. A pair of sealer rollers located further downstream are used to firmly press the tab across the leading edge of the folded material.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6446958Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the traveling direction of a piece of folded material in the feed path of a folding machine. A first roller nip is used to ingest the folded material into the front end of a turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be maintained, the folded material is allowed to move out through the rear end of the turn chute. If the traveling direction is to be reversed, a stop is used to block the rear end in order to keep the leading edge of the ingested folded material from leaving the turn chute through the rear end. At the same time, the trailing edge of the ingested folded material is caused to engage in a second roller nip located in the front end of the turn chute, in order for the second roller nip to move the folded material out of the turn chute, thereby reversing the traveling direction of the folded material.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6435245Abstract: A method and system for producing a self-mailer using a folding apparatus for folding sheets into folded materials and a tabbing apparatus for sealing the folded materials with tabs in a continuous flow. Typically a folded material exits the folded apparatus with the open end of the folded material leading and this traveling direction of the folded material is not suitable for tabbing. A path directing apparatus is placed between the folding apparatus and the tabbing apparatus so as to cause the folded material to enter the tabbing apparatus with the open end of the folded material leading. As such, the entire process can be carried out without manually reversing the traveling direction of the folded material. In addition, a printer and a labeling device can be added to the self-mailer producing system to put on an address label, a postage indicia and a return address while keeping the process steps in a continuous flow.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Publication number: 20020069954Abstract: A method and system for producing a self-mailer using a folding apparatus for folding sheets into folded materials and a tabbing apparatus for sealing the folded materials with tabs in a continuous flow. Typically a folded material exits the folded apparatus with the open end of the folded material leading and this traveling direction of the folded material is not suitable for tabbing. A path directing apparatus is placed between the folding apparatus and the tabbing apparatus so as to cause the folded material to enter the tabbing apparatus with the open end of the folded material leading. As such, the entire process can be carried out without manually reversing the traveling direction of the folded material. In addition, a printer and a labeling device can be added to the self-mailer producing system to put on an address label, a postage indicia and a return address while keeping the process steps in a continuous flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 1999Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: PAUL R. SETTE, RICHARD A. SLOAN
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Patent number: 6367910Abstract: A method and a printer for printing on a substrate with a plurality of print head assemblies, wherein each assembly includes at least one print head. The printer includes a roller assembly to move the substrate towards the print head assemblies along a feed path, which is substantially perpendicular to the width of the substrate. A movable fence is used to adjust the width of the feed path according to the width of the substrate. A linking arm is used to mechanically couple the print head assemblies with pivot action. A motor/belt assembly is used to move the print head assemblies relative to each other via the linking arm in order to place the printer assemblies over the width of the feed path. Moreover, the printer also comprises a photosensing device coupled to the linking mechanism such that the photosensing device provides a signal when the print head assemblies have been properly place in the feed path according to the width of the feed path.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6318840Abstract: A method and a printer for printing on a substrate with a plurality of automatic positioning multiple microprocessor controlled print head assemblies, wherein each assembly includes at least one print head and arranged for movement along a rectilinear path transverse to the direction of movement of the substrate feed path. A microprocessor-based controller determines the print position and directs the print head assemblies to print positions by motor control to properly place the print head assemblies over the substrate feed path. An encoder senses the position of a movable fence used to adjust the width of the feed path according to the width of the substrate to determine a dimension which corresponds to a set of pre-determined criteria used to position and control the print heads for printing on the substrate surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6293650Abstract: A method and a printer for printing on a substrate with a plurality of print head assemblies, wherein each assembly includes at least one print head. The printer includes a roller assembly to move the substrate towards the print head assemblies along a feed path, which is substantially perpendicular to the width of the substrate. A movable fence is used to adjust the width of the feed path according to the width of the substrate. A linking arm is used to mechanically couple the print head assemblies with pivot action. The moveable fence is used to manually move the print head assemblies relative to each other via the linking arm in order to properly place the print head assemblies over the width of the feed path.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2000Date of Patent: September 25, 2001Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 6206817Abstract: A method and system for folding a sheet having a certain length into a folded piece of a fold type having a first edge and a second edge, wherein the sheet length and the fold type are simultaneously selectable. The sheet can be folded once or twice into the folded piece. After the sheet is folded into the folded piece, the folded piece moves in a direction with a first edge leading the second edge. The method and system further include a step and a mechanism to control the moving direction of the folded piece such that the folded piece can be caused to move with the first edge trailing the second edge or allowed to continue to move with the first edge leading the second edge when the folded piece exits the system.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 5779499Abstract: Disclosed is a computer interface multiple input connecting device for connecting a plurality of peripheral devices to a computer having a plurality of standard elongate expansion slots provided in a rear wall of the chassis of the computer. The connecting device is composed of a housing having approximately the same thickness as the slots so that it can be mounted to the rear wall of the computer over the slots, and it includes means on a front wall for mounting a plurality of input connector sockets, thereby increasing the number of such sockets that could otherwise be mounted in the expansion slot without the connecting device of the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 5168804Abstract: A printing mechanism sub-module for postage meters of the flat-bed type includes a meter housing with a print meter slogan aperture. A first and second print element each includes a plurality of radially locatable print faces around the center of the respective print elements. A first and second brackets is mounted to the internal of the meter housing and a shaft is rotatively mounted between the first and second brackets having a first and second shaft section. The first printing element is mounted radially around the first shaft section such rotation of the shaft causing corresponding rotation of the first printing element. The second printing element is rotatively mounted around the second shaft section such that the second printing element may be rotatively positioned independently of the shaft position. A first gear fixably mounted around the shaft. A second print element has a second gear formed at one end and aligned opposite the first gear.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1991Date of Patent: December 8, 1992Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: David K. Lee, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: 5154118Abstract: An automatically settable date printing apparatus adapted particularly for use in postage meters which print an indicia on envelopes as they are fed seriatim past a rotary printing drum in the postage meter in which a plurality of print wheels print the day, month and year successively for each day. The apparatus includes a date print wheel assembly having individual print wheels for printing the unit day, the decade day, the month and the year for any given date. A drive wheel assembly includes a plurality of independent drive wheels for driving the date print wheels an appropriate amount, the drive wheel which is connected to the unit day print wheel being the sole source of input drive for the other drive wheels which rotate the other date print wheels by an appropriate amount through transfer components on the drive wheels.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1992Date of Patent: October 13, 1992Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Michael S. Doery, Arnold T. Eventoff, James A. Salomon, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.
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Patent number: D398583Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Paul R. Sette, Richard A. Sloan, Jr.