Patents by Inventor Sean E. Whittaker

Sean E. Whittaker 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: 6234696
    Abstract: Apparatus for automatically loading paper from a supply roll into a printer. The printer includes a base and a cover hinged to the base. A contoured guide is mounted adjacent to a drive roll to form a paper path that converges from an upper entrance region to a lower exit region in the direction of drive roll rotation. A biased member is mounted in the top cover of the printer and is arranged to move into contact with the drive roll within the entrance region when the cover is closed. In practice, when the cover is open a run of paper from the roll is placed over the entrance region to the paper path. Closing the cover produces rotation of the drive roll and causes the biased member to force the paper into driving contact with roll producing a fold in the front section of the paper supply. The folded section passes through the paper path into a nip formed between the drive roll and pinch rollers whereupon the folded section is advanced through a printing station into a read out station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Transact Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean E. Whittaker
  • Patent number: 5018720
    Abstract: A document transport module for moving a document along a bidirectional feed line from an upstream area to a downstream area in, for example, an automated teller machine. The document transport module comprises first and second generally planar supports, with the first generally planar support having a first cooperating member and a second cooperating member located thereon. The first and second cooperating members each have ends which have ramp portions secured thereto. In addition, the first and second cooperating members each have an arcuately shaped recess therein which faces a second support. A document can be moved between the first and second supports and guided into the arcuately shaped recessed portions of the first and second cooperating members by the ramp portions. The ramp portions guide the document between the arcuately shaped recessed portions and a drive roller mounted in the second support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Sean E. Whittaker, Bruce F. Harris