Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Horvath

Stephen J. Horvath 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: 4707599
    Abstract: Sensors in the infeed and output stackers, under control of the microprocessor, monitor the sheets. The apparatus is started automatically by placing sheets in the infeed. A count of the sheets is developed and displayed as the sheets are fed. When the infeed is empty and the output contains sheets, the count is retained. If sheets are removed from the outfeed, the count is retained and is reset only after more sheets are placed in the input. The same rules obtain for batching. The sensors cooperate with singles, holes and doubles detectors and have their again adjusted depending upon sheet density. Automatic threshold adjustment circuits compensate for dust build-up and component aging. Upon sheet detection, the sensing circuit threshold level is instantaneously shifted to prevent an abrupt change in intensity from the sheet covering the sensor to provide an erroneous indication of the presence of a subsequent sheet or sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Brandt, Incorporated
    Inventors: William Sherman, III, Francis C. Larkin, Stephen J. Horvath
  • Patent number: 4703172
    Abstract: Sensors in the infeed and output stackers, under control of the microprocessor, monitor the sheets. The apparatus is started automatically by placing sheets in the infeed. A count of the sheets is developed and displayed as the sheets are fed. When the infeed is empty and the output contains sheets, the count is retained. If sheets are removed from the outfeed, the count is retained and is reset only after more sheets are placed in the input. The same rules obtain for batching. The sensors cooperate with singles, holes and doubles detectors and have their gain adjusted depending upon sheet density. Automatic threshold adjustment circuits compensate for dust build-up and component aging. Upon sheet detection, the sensing circuit threshold level is instantaneously shifted to prevent an abrupt change in intensity from the sheet covering the sensor to provide an erroneous indication of the presence of a subsequent sheet or sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Brandt, Incorporated
    Inventors: William Sherman, III, Francis C. Larkin, Stephen J. Horvath
  • Patent number: 4671502
    Abstract: Sensors in the infeed and output stackers, under control of the microprocessor, monitor the sheets. The apparatus is started automatically by placing sheets in the infeed. A count of the sheets is developed and displayed as the sheets are fed. When the infeed is empty and the output contains sheets, the count is retained. If sheets are removed from the outfeed, the count is retained and is reset only after more sheets are placed in the input. The same rules obtain for batching. The sensors cooperate with singles, holes and doubles detectors and have their gain adjusted depending upon sheet density. Automatic threshold adjustment circuits compensate for dust build-up and component aging. Upon sheet detection, the sensing circuit threshold level is instantaneously shifted to prevent an abrupt change in intensity from the sheet covering the sensor to provide an erroneous indication of the presence of a subsequent sheet or sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Brandt, Inc.
    Inventors: William Sherman, III, Francis C. Larkin, Stephen J. Horvath
  • Patent number: 4608704
    Abstract: Sensors in the infeed and output stackers, under control of the microprocessor, monitor the sheets. The apparatus is started automatically by placing sheets in the infeed. A count of the sheets is developed and displayed as the sheets are fed. When the infeed is empty and the output contains sheets, the count is retained. If sheets are removed from the outfeed, the count is retained and is reset only after more sheets are placed in the input. The same rules obtain for batching. The sensors cooperate with singles, holes and doubles detectors and have their gain adjusted depending upon sheet density. Automatic threshold adjustment circuits compensate for dust build-up and component aging. Upon sheet detection, the sensing circuit threshold level is instantaneously shifted to prevent an abrupt change in intensity from the sheet covering the sensor to provide an erroneous indication of the presence of a subsequent sheet or sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Brandt, Incorporated
    Inventors: William Sherman, III, Francis C. Larkin, Stephen J. Horvath
  • Patent number: 4426785
    Abstract: Sheets moving in a feed direction and arranged at spaced intervals are fed through nips arranged to rollingly engage opposing sides of the sheet, each nip being formed by a roller rotating about a fixed axis and a cooperating swingably mounted roller. Resilient adjustable biasing means urges an assembly upon which the swingably mounted roller is pivotally mounted, as well as an arm forming part of the pivotally mounted roller assembly, in a first direction. A sensor is positioned adjacent the free end of said arm. Sheets moving through said nip cause displacement of said pivotal assembly against the biasing force in accordance with the thickness of the sheet passing through the nip. The biasing means comprises a thick, and accurate resilient element designed to permit the roller assembly to follow even abrupt thickness changes rapidly and accurately without experiencing overshoot or undershoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Inventors: Peter J. Loftus, Stephen J. Horvath
  • Patent number: 4381447
    Abstract: Electronic solid state circuitry incorporating the microprocessor for automatically controlling document handling apparatus. Sheets are advanced from a stack of sheets arranged in an infeed stacker and are moved one at a time at high speed through an examining location where sensors examine the sheets to determine their condition. The microprocessor periodically initiates an adjustment in the brightness level and gain control level of the lamps and sensor elements employed in the sensor array; tracks each sheet as it moves through the document handling apparatus; and evaluates the outputs developed by the sensors to determine the fitness of each sheet. A gating roller assembly, under control of the microprocessor, is operated to divert each sheet toward one of a plurality of output stackers according to the results of the evaluation performed by the microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Brandt, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Horvath, Steven R. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 4359062
    Abstract: An electronic coin dispenser provides a calculator and a printer besides dispensing coins and displaying the amount of change on an 8-digit LED display. The electromechanical coin dispensing elements and the thermal print head are controlled by a microcomputer, which is responsive to mode select signals to direct such operations as: dispensing amounts between $0.01-$4.99; dispensing the cents portion of a dollar and cents amount on the LED display; and automatically advancing the tape a plurality of lines so that the expended portion can be conveniently torn off. Split change for a quarter and a dollar is provided by operating dual-function keys labeled "0/25" and "00/$" respectively. Remote data is received by the microcomputer through a remote interface and amounts dispensed by remote command are displayed in a distinctive manner. The microcomputer also performs timing functions which are essential to the operation of the print head and coin dispensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: Brandt, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Uecker, Stephen J. Horvath, Francis C. Larkin