Patents Issued in April 6, 2010
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Patent number: 7690613Abstract: A breakaway transformer base for a lighting pole includes four upstanding corner members (preferably formed of aluminum castings), and four side sheets. Each side sheet is attached to two of the corner members, e.g., by welds or fasteners, thereby interconnecting the corner members. Each corner member forms bolt holes for enabling the base to be bolted to a lighting standard and to an anchored foundation.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Kearney-National Inc.Inventors: Joseph M. Bowman, Ray Carl Minor
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Patent number: 7690614Abstract: A friction mount apparatus for supporting an electronic device (10) on a surface (14). The apparatus (10) includes a body (16), anchors (18,20,22), and a receiving member (24). Body (16) includes a recessed surface (30) on the bottom thereof into which a foam layer (36) is secured, wherein the foam layer (36) contacts a mounting surface (14) and resists moving relative to the surface (14). The anchors (18,20,22) are connected to the body (16) via flexible necks (38,40,42) and have bottom surfaces formed of soft material and weighted cores to press the bottom surfaces against the mounting surface to resist movement relative to the mounting surface (14) and thus further stabilize the apparatus (10). The receiving member (24) is secured to a top surface of the body (16) and is adapted to releasably retain an electronic device (12).Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Garmin Ltd.Inventors: John J. Mudd, Brian G. Schoenfish, Jeffrey D. Minelli, David J. Laverick
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Patent number: 7690615Abstract: A gasket for a door mirror according to the present invention is constructed so that when the gasket is interposed and pressed between a mirror base of a door mirror and a mounting seat of a car body, a tip part of a seal lip is pushed against a seating surface of the mounting seat, so as to tilt and bow toward a circumferential portion of the gasket. Then the tip part of the seal lip is resiliently urged against the seating surface of the mounting seat because of its flexibility, so as to seal a clearance between a joint surface of the gasket and the mounting seat of the car body throughout the entire circumference.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Murakami CorporationInventor: Yoshitake Nakazawa
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Patent number: 7690616Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure mountable to a wall, a strap coupled to an outer surface of the enclosure, and a holder mounted to the wall. The holder tautly pulls the strap toward the wall to hold the enclosure against the wall.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Gordon Lange
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Patent number: 7690617Abstract: According to one embodiment, an anti-toppling band includes a band main body having a flexibility and a plurality of through-holes formed in the band main body and arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof at an interval. The band main body includes a plurality of first portions where the plurality of through-holes are respectively located, and a plurality of second portions located in sections between the plurality of through-holes. The cross sectional area of the plurality of first portions taken along a width direction of the band main body and the cross sectional area of the plurality of second portions taken along a width direction of the band main body are equal to each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Mitsuyoshi Takao
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Patent number: 7690618Abstract: The present invention relates to a position adjustment mechanism, comprising two cylindrical portions, a first one of the portions being slidably disposed inside a second one of the portions. One of the portions has at least three detents and the other portion has at least three members for engaging in respective the detents to hold the portions in a first position, the members being removable from the detents to allow the portions to move into a second position; wherein the detents and members are equi-spaced around the first and second portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Roger Geoffrey Halstead
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Patent number: 7690619Abstract: An apparatus that provides for rotation about two axes orthogonal to each other includes a gimbal having two arms adjoining a portion that is mounted to a base for rotation about a first axis. A shaft defining a second axis orthogonal to the first pivotally couples a mounting plate to the arms. The mounting plate has an arcuate edge with first and second parallel grooves therein adapted to receiving a drive cable. A drive cable that is engaged with a drive pulley is aligned by at least one idler pulley with the first and second grooves of the mounting plate. The drive cable has opposing free ends that are received in the first and second grooves of the mounting plate. A motor is coupled to the drive pulley for controlling the drive cable travel, to accordingly rotate the mounting plate to provide for orientating a device in a desired direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.Inventor: Charles Wolfersberger
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Patent number: 7690620Abstract: A height adjusting structure for a stand of a display device is provided. The stand includes a guide rail, base, supporting unit, and guide unit. The guide rail is fixedly installed to a rear surface of the display device. The base is supported on a horizontal surface. The supporting unit extends upward from the base. The guide unit is fixedly installed on the supporting unit, to be guided and moved along the guide rail. The height adjusting structure uses a minimum number of parts, is easy to assemble, is highly resistant to external shocks, is able to securely support a display device, operates quieter, and has improved operating reliability.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Moon Hee Lee
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Patent number: 7690621Abstract: A method for producing a plurality of thin film actuators is disclosed. The method includes depositing a film of a shape memory alloy material onto a polyimide film to form a shape memory alloy construction. The shape memory alloy construction is strained from 2 to 8%. Post processing is conducted on the shape memory alloy construction after the step of imparting a 2 to 8% strain. This post processing can be the deposition of additional layers of the slicing of the actuators. Various shape memory metal actuators are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Board of Trustees Operating Michigan State UniversityInventor: David S. Grummon
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Patent number: 7690622Abstract: An auxiliary valve member, an auxiliary pilot pressure chamber for applying a pilot fluid pressure to the auxiliary valve body, and a transmitting rod for transmitting operating force of the auxiliary valve body to a main diaphragm are provided other than the main diaphragm which is in contact with or separating from a main valve seat by operating by means of application of the pilot fluid pressure in a diaphragm valve portion, as a mechanism for strengthening valve-closing force of the main diaphragm, so as for the main diaphragm not to be separated from the valve seat even when the fluid pressure from a load is applied to the main diaphragm as adverse pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: SMC CorporationInventors: Yoshihiko Ito, Hideyuki Takada
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Patent number: 7690623Abstract: An electronic faucet (10) mounted on a countertop (12) includes a housing, at least one fluid inlet line (24a, 24b) extending into the housing, a fluid outlet (46) from the housing, a solenoid (142, 143) for operating a valve controlling the fluid flow between at least one inlet line and the outlet, and a control circuit (206) for controlling the opening and closing of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Arichell Technologies Inc.Inventors: Natan E. Parsons, Fatih Guler, Kay Herbert, Xiaoxiong Mo, Gregory P. Greene
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Patent number: 7690624Abstract: A valve drive device which can prevent a locknut fixing a stem nut to a drive sleeve from getting loosened. The valve drive device comprises: the stem nut for screwing a valve stem thereinto; the drive sleeve engaging with a male spline formed on a peripheral outer surface of said stem nut, said drive sleeve including a worm gear on a peripheral outer surface thereof; a worm in meshing engagement with said worm gear; and a housing that supports said drive sleeve by bearings. The valve drive device further comprises: a stem nut fastening member having a first male screw that engages with a female screw provided on a peripheral inner surface of said drive sleeve; and a locknut that engages with a second male screw provided on a reduced diameter portion of said stem nut fastening member, said second male screw having a reverse screw thread relative to said first male screw, so that no slack may arise between said stem nut fastening member and said drive sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignees: The Japan Atomic Power Company, Nippon Gear Co., Ltd.Inventors: Haruo Ito, Susumu Watanabe, Osamu Okada
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Patent number: 7690625Abstract: A valve including a shutter placed in a chamber which is arranged in the valve body and whose end is provided with a seat against which a plug-forming part of the shutter is pressed in the closed position of the valve and is remote in the open position thereof. The inventive valve also includes a magnetic control device provided with the shutter magnetic drive device disposed outside the chamber and displacing the shutter in the closed or open position thereof. The valve is characterized in that the magnetic control device includes at least one ball which is made of a magnetic material, disposed in the chamber and is coupled with an external magnetic drive device, wherein the ball is associated with the shutter in such a way that the shutter is driven in the chamber when the ball is moved by a magnetic drive device.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Sidel ParticipationsInventors: Gerard Sabiron, Jean-Jacques Serin, Patrick Decarne
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Patent number: 7690626Abstract: A trunnion type ball valve having valve seats that are laterally moveable within seat recesses of the valve and establish sealing engagement with a valve ball member that is trunnion supported for rotational movement between open and closed positions. The valve seat members are self-centering for optimum sealing engagement with the spherical sealing surface of the ball member. The internal geometry of the seat assemblies are designed to permit optimum flow through the valve mechanism even under circumstances where the seat members are located in laterally off-center relation with respect to the centerline of the flow passages due to self-centering seat movement. The ball valve is readily adapted for fire-safe application via the use of heat resistant seals and metal-to-metal sealing of components to prevent or minimize leakage in the event of seal destruction or degradation by excess heat.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Gerald A. Stunkard
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Patent number: 7690627Abstract: A pulling tool for grabbing and pulling material from underneath structural elements. The tool has a handle, the handle having a main body portion and having one flat end portion bent from one end of the body portion. A thin, narrow, claw member is attached to the free end of the one end portion and extends across and past both sides of the one end portion to form a claw on each side of the handle at one end of the handle. Each claw is tapered to a straight end edge which edge is transverse to the end portion. Each claw has a narrow v-shaped material receiving slot extending inwardly from the straight end edge to allow the claw to grab the material being removed.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: William Harpell
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Patent number: 7690628Abstract: A fastener for anchoring fencing to a post. The fastener includes first and second separable and complementary sections, each section have an inner and outer surface, a middle web portion, opposed first and second sides extend from opposite edges of the middle web portion in a direction outwardly from the middle web portion, and opposed first and second ends. Male coupling members extend in a direction outward from one of the sides of the first section and the second section has female receiving spaces on one of the sided. Wherein the male coupling members being biasable for engagement with the spaces to detachably secure the sections together with the inner surfaces facing one another such that the inner surfaces define an axial passage that extends from the first to the second ends of the sections, whereby the passage permits the fencing and post to be clamped together between the sections.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventors: Craig Hewitt, Lori Hewitt
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Patent number: 7690629Abstract: A modular rail and post fence system. The fence system includes a plurality of rail assemblies with each rail assembly formed from a pair of panels. Each panel has a pair of sidewalls joined together at an angle to form an angled edge wherein the pair of panels are joined together to form a rail assembly. A plurality of elongated posts are also provided. Each elongated post has at least one longitudinal recess with a pair of opposed protrusions extending into the longitudinal recess. At least one pair of notches in the pair of opposed protrusions is provided whereby the angled edges of each rail assembly are received in one pair of notches of the elongated posts. The entire system may be fabricated, assembled, and installed without fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Briggs Rainbow Buildings, Inc.Inventors: Earl Benton Briggs, Dean Barkley Briggs
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Patent number: 7690630Abstract: A long travel, varying spring rate combination spring includes two differing rate springs connected end-to-end in such a way that the lower rate spring is compressed until positive engagement of a plunger with an intermediate flange member occurs with the higher rate spring thereafter compressed. Each spring may be assembled separately and connected together with a coupling to create a combination spring, allowing various springs to be combined to meet the requirements of a particular application.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventors: Victor L. Chun, Brian Lee Taylor, Alexander B. Leibman, Michael Hajjar
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Patent number: 7690631Abstract: A ski holder for tuning skis is disclosed. The device allows a ski to be held in a variety of orientations so that adjustments and maintenance work can be performed thereon. The device includes a track assembly, a plurality of ski support assemblies slidably engageable with the track assembly, and a plurality of binding support assemblies slidably engageable with the track assembly. The ski support assemblies allow a ski to be held in vertical, horizontal, and angled positions, and can be locked in desired positions along the track assembly. The binding support assemblies contact bindings of a ski to assist with retaining a ski on the holder, and can also be locked in desired positions along the track assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Scott Rathjen
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Patent number: 7690632Abstract: A sheet bending apparatus and a sheet postprocessing apparatus are provided for improved alignment of recording sheets during center-folding. A center-folding unit mounted in a sheet postprocessing apparatus performs a center-folding processing to a stack of recording sheets aligned on their sides and placed in a sheet holding member. Side aligning is performed near a central portion in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet holding member. The center-folding unit includes: two upper end aligning members positioned upstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet holding member and movable equally in opposite width directions of the sheet holding member; and a pair of lower side end aligning members positioned on downstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet holding member and are movable equally in opposite width directions of the sheet holding member and independently from the upper end aligning members.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Sachio Izumichi, Mitsutoshi Takemoto, Takashi Kotani, Terumitsu Noso
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Patent number: 7690633Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus may include a conveyance path and a tray. The conveyance path may convey sheets. The tray may receive the sheets conveyed from the conveyance path. The tray may include a stapler and a folding member. The stapler may staple the sheets. The folding member may fold the stapled sheets and may be provided upstream from the stapler relative to a sheet conveyance direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Shohichi Satoh, Akira Kunieda, Tomoichi Nomura, Hiroshi Maeda, Kazuhiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7690634Abstract: A method is provided for processing and printing print job portions. The method includes providing an output related attribute, and using the attribute to divide a portion of one or more print jobs into a first section (including a first print output stack) and a second section (including a second print output stack). When the portion of the one or more print jobs is printed, an output stack processing instruction is used to separate the first output stack from the second print output stack along a boundary defined by the instruction.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Javier A. Morales
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Patent number: 7690635Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable first shaft, wherein the first shaft includes a first cam, a rotatable second shaft, an item gripper connected to the second shaft by a connection including a link and an offset shaft rotatably connected to the link, and a linkage. The link is adapted to rotate with the second shaft for pivoting the offset shaft about the second shaft. The item gripper includes jaws adapted to open and close when the offset shaft is axially rotated relative to the link. The linkage connects the first cam on the first shaft to a rider on the offset shaft. The linkage includes a second having a stepped surface for a stepped movement of the rider along the stepped surface to open the jaws during a predetermined angular movement of the offset shaft about the center axis of the second shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Nicholas Antonelli, Jeffrey L. Chodack, Luciano Dos Santos, Russell W. Holbrook, Kevin O'Dea
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Patent number: 7690636Abstract: A finishing apparatus in a copying machine is disclosed, which can finish large sized papers without enlarging the size of a tray base. The finishing apparatus includes a jogging assembly 170 aligning papers in left and right directions, a paper contact plate 166 provided with a stapler 196, a paper roller 200 pushing the papers to a paper stacker 134, ends of the papers being positioned in the stapler, a tray base 10 moving in a direction opposite to the paper roller to guide alignment of a set of the papers, and an angle adjusting unit guiding the papers by adjusting a tilt angle of the papers in accordance with the size of the papers.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignees: KRDC Co., Ltd., Gradco Ltd.Inventor: Seung-Kyoon Noh
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Patent number: 7690637Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a post-processing unit that applies post-processing to sheets supplied from an image forming apparatus, a conveying tool that guides the sheets subjected to the post-processing to a discharge port, a sheet discharge tray that receives the sheets discharged from the discharge port, and a control unit that controls an operation of the conveying tool and stops a discharge operation for new sheets, when a quantity of the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray reaches a full state set in advance. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a pressing unit that temporarily prevents movement of the sheet on the conveying tool, when a sheet is present on the conveying tool in the full state.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mikio Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7690638Abstract: A printing system is configured to be able to use a plurality of types of stacking units. The printing system comprises a first controller configured to execute operations to stack printed material which is printed by a printing unit to a stacking unit such that the printed material is stacked in a state shifted a defined amount as to other printed material stacked on the stacking unit. The printing system further includes a second controller configured to inhibit the operations based on information relating to a specified type of the stacking unit in the plurality of types of stacking units.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 7690639Abstract: A sheet conveying device, that can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first conveying unit to convey a sheet in a first sheet conveying direction, a second conveying unit including a sheet holding section to hold and transfer the sheet in a second sheet conveying direction, a sheet conveying path provided between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit, a belt-type sheet conveying unit including a belt and first and second rotary belt holding members, a shaft holding member to hold the first and second rotary belt holding members to be spaced at a given constant interval, and a regulation member to regulate a movement of the belt in the sheet width direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Tadashi Kusumi
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Patent number: 7690640Abstract: This invention is related to a feeder for transporting a print medium from a tray along a U-shaped transporting path. The feeder comprises a transporting guide. The transportation guide comprises an outer transporting guide and an inner transporting guide, the U-shaped transporting path is formed between the outer transporting guide and the inner transporting guide. The outer transporting guide extends from a position adjacent to one end of the first tray. The inner transporting guide extends from a position adjacent to one end of the second tray. The inner transporting guide comprises a concave portion facing the outer transporting guide. The concave portion has a length which extends from an upstream end to a predetermined position of the inner transporting guide along a transportation direction of the second print medium, and a width which is adjusted such that the second print medium is capable of passing within the concave portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Koga, Daisuke Kozaki, Yusaku Watanabe
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Patent number: 7690641Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a system transports paper to prevent stubbing within a printing machine. The paper path facilitates transport of one or more sheets of paper from the first end to the second end, each sheet of paper has a leading edge. A first entry point is located between the first end and the second end that allows one or more sheets to enter the paper path in succession. A first nip is adjacent to the first entry point to direct the leading edge of the one or more sheets away from the first entry point. A second entry point is located a distance from the first entry point that allows one or more sheets to enter the paper path. A second nip is adjacent to the second entry point to direct the leading edge of the one or more sheets away from the second entry point.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Simon Neil Jowett, Richard Thomas Calhoun Bridges
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Patent number: 7690642Abstract: A method maintains an environment within an interior of a sheet feeder during dead-cycling of an image forming device to which the sheet feeder is operatively connected. The method jets pulses of air into the interior of the sheet feeder that houses two or more pieces of media therein while the image forming device is dead-cycling. By the method, the attractive forces between two pieces of adjacent media. In a stack are reduced or minimized, and feeding of multiple sheets can be reduced or eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Aldwin A. Roberts, Jamison DeLorenzo, David L. Rasmussen, Michele D. Cleary, Joseph C. Farbizio, Lawrence D. Dipzinski, David M. Gurak
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Patent number: 7690643Abstract: There is provided an apparatus provided with a tray which goes up and down with sheet stack being supported, a pickup roller which feeds the sheet on the tray a first detecting sensor which detects a object placed on the tray other than the sheets to be fed by the pickup roller, as the tray goes up.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yusuke Imai
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Patent number: 7690644Abstract: A supply station for positioning enclosures on an enclosure-collating path of a mail-processing installation allows a simple conversion from operation for processing a stack of comparatively flexible, thin enclosures to operation for processing a stack of comparatively thick, essentially inflexible enclosures. The conversion is achieved using a magazine housing inside a supply station housing mounted so that it can be secured in two different pivot positions, whereby in one pivot position the lowermost enclosure of a stack of enclosures is bent using a vacuum arrangement in which the front end of the enclosure in the withdrawal direction can be gripped by a gripper, while in a second pivot position of the magazine housing, the front end in the withdrawal direction of a lowermost, comparatively thick and essentially inflexible enclosure is pushed by means of a pusher arrangement directly into the open claws of the gripper.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Deutschland GmbHInventors: Martin Sting, Christian Botschek, Rainer Oberheim
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Patent number: 7690645Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus, including a sheet holder which accommodates recording sheets stacked on each other; a feeding device which feeds an uppermost one of the stacked sheets in a sheet-feed direction; an inclined guide plate which is provided downstream of the sheet holder in the sheet-feed direction, wherein the inclined guide plate has a sheet-guide surface which guides a movement of each sheet while changing a direction of the movement thereof; a sheet-separate body with which the sheet feeding device cooperates to separate and feed the sheets, one by one, wherein the sheet-separate body is supported by the inclined guide plate, and includes sheet-separate portions which are arranged in the sheet-feed direction and which project from respective portions of the sheet-guide surface; and a projecting portion which is supported by the inclined guide plate, at a position distant from the sheet-separate body in a widthwise direction of the sheet holder, and which has a curved surface projecting from the sType: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuji Koga
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Patent number: 7690646Abstract: A sheet storing device having a conveyance device that converts the conveyance direction while holding the sheet and a storing section that has the first support member supporting the surface of the sheet substantially vertically, the second support member supporting the edge of the sheet and a pressing member pressing the sheet against the first support member, a post-processing apparatus equipped with the sheet storing device and an image forming system equipped with the aforesaid items.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Toshio Shida, Masashi Kougami
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Patent number: 7690647Abstract: A mechanical device to stabilize the stack height position of a compiler output tray and compress the sets in the tray is provided. The small mechanical device may be mounted in the back wall of the stacker tray near the top limit. The mechanical device includes a gravity-activated arm that moves out of the way when a set is ejected and, then, when the stacker tray lowers, the arm returns to the extended position. The tray rises again to the compiling position for the next set, pushing the arm upwards and compressing the set against the rubber contact member. The compression reduces the stack height, increases tray capacity and prevents each new set from pushing out the top of the stack.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Joseph M. McNamara, Paul B. Crane
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Patent number: 7690648Abstract: A sheet aligning device includes first and second aligning plates disposed on opposite lateral sides of the feeder board, the first and second aligning plates being capable of being reciprocatingly moved in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction and each having a sheet abutting surface parallel to the sheet conveying direction, an input member for inputting a sheet width, and a controller for controlling the first and second aligning plates so that the first aligning plate is moved, based on the inputted sheet width, to allow the sheet abutting surface thereof to be brought into abutment with a first lateral side of each sheet, thereby laterally aligning the sheet, and the second aligning plate is moved, based on the inputted sheet width, to allow a second lateral side of each sheet close to the second aligning plate to pass through a sheet-lateral-side passing zone on the second aligning plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Ryobi Ltd.Inventors: Kiyomi Utsumi, Masazumi Hidera, Masamichi Sasaki
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Patent number: 7690649Abstract: A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Brad L. Davies, Keith M. Smith, Wesley A. Kirschner, Elaine B. Cristiani, Gary S. Jacobson
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Patent number: 7690650Abstract: A sheet transporting device including: a sheet feeding section that feeds sheets to a transporting path; a pair of upstream transporting rollers and a pair of downstream transporting rollers arranged with a predetermined space; a double feed detecting section that detects a length of a double feed portion; a determining section that determines whether the length of the double feed portion is shorter than the predetermined space or not; and a transport control section that controls the drives of the upstream transporting rollers and the downstream transporting rollers, wherein the transport control section controls speeds of the upstream transporting rollers and the downstream transporting rollers so as to separate the delaying sheet from the preceding sheet of the overlapped sheets, in a case where the determining section determines that the length of the double feed portion is shorter than the predetermined space.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Manabu Itoh, Satoshi Murakami, Kazumasa Tonami
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Patent number: 7690651Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that detects a sheet remaining between a transfer unit and fixing unit using a loop sensor. The loop sensor is configured to detect a loop of a sheet conveyed between the transfer unit and the fixing unit. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit to control, in accordance with an output from the loop sensor, a sheet conveyance speed of the fixing unit so as to form the loop of the sheet conveyed by the transfer unit and the fixing unit. If the loop sensor detects a presence of the sheet while driving of the transfer unit and the fixing unit for conveying the sheet has stopped, the control unit determines that a remaining sheet is present, and outputs a warning signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yutaka Kubochi
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Patent number: 7690652Abstract: An image formation device includes an image formation unit and a paper feed mechanism. The image formation unit is configured to print an image on a recording paper. The paper feed mechanism includes a feed roller, a press roller, cylindrical press rings and press roller bearings. The feed roller is configured to impart conveyance force to the recording paper. The feed roller has grip portions being configured to contact the recording paper. The press roller is disposed across from the feed roller. The press roller is configured to press the recording paper against the feed roller. A paper feed path through which the recording paper is fed to the image formation unit is formed between the feed roller and the press roller. The cylindrical press rings are attached to the press roller at locations adjacent to ends of the press roller. The press roller bearings support the press roller and bias the press roller toward the feed roller via the press rings.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Noriyuki Shimizu
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Patent number: 7690653Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a game device. In one aspect, a foosball game apparatus is provided. The foosball game apparatus includes a game body having a playing field, an endwall adjacent each end of the playing field, and a sidewall adjacent each side of the playing field. The foosball apparatus further includes an electronic digital display formed in each end wall for indicating a time period and a score. In another aspect, a method of playing a timed foosball game is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2004Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Steven Mark Simon
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Patent number: 7690654Abstract: A card game combined with a board game. The object of the game, which can be played by at least two players, is to score the most points over the other competitors. A related aim of the game in this quest to achieve the highest points possible is to create horizontal, vertical, and diagonal placements of cards in the spirit and basics of tic-tac-toe.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Michael E. Vosper, Sr.
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Patent number: 7690655Abstract: The player is dealt two hole cards. Each opponent is dealt two hole cards. The player has the option to raise or check. If the player raises, all opponents must raise. If the player checks, all opponents must check. Then three community cards are dealt. If the player raises or checks, all opponents must raise or check likewise. Then the final two community cards are dealt. If the player raises or checks, all opponents must raise or check likewise. All of the opponents hole cards are exposed. Whoever has the highest five card poker hand by category wins the pot. If two or more of the opponents and the player have the same highest five card poker hand by category, the hand is a tie and the pot carries over to the next round of play.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Ernest W Moody
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Patent number: 7690656Abstract: A self-resetting paddle target is comprised of at least one paddle mounted to a carrier body. The carrier body is rotatably mounted to a support rod such that the carrier body may freely rotate about the support rod. The carrier body is formed as a cam follower configured to engage the upper surface of a carrier support member fixedly fastened to the support rod and that acts as a cam. The interaction of the carrier body and the carrier support member controls the rotation of the carrier body about the support rod and allows the paddle to reset itself after being impacted by a projectile. A plurality of paddles may be disposed along the support rod.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2009Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Charles A. Saunders
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Patent number: 7690657Abstract: A gasket for installation between components, that under operating conditions are subjected to temperature-dependent relative motions, in particular a cylinder head gasket for an internal combustion engine, built from multiple individual seal packets, of which a least one is assigned to each component and that at least under operating conditions a gliding relative motion is given solely between contact surfaces of the individual seal packets.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2003Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Manfred Klinner
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Patent number: 7690658Abstract: A tool chuck may include a shaft supporting chuck jaws. The shaft may provide a first transmission power path for rotationally driving the chuck jaws. The shaft may have a through hole. A chuck actuating mechanism may be provided in the through hole. The chuck actuating mechanism may provide a second transmission power path for opening and closing the chuck jaws.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Daniel Puzio, John R. Cochran, John E. Buck
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Patent number: 7690659Abstract: A motor-driven roller disc for multi-directional operation under the control of a user, with a multi-wheeled drive configuration with motorized direct-drive power-train to give a user the ability to move in any direction at any time, and to maintain control over steering and speed when in motion. The roller disc includes a platform having an array of radially-oriented wheels mounted around the underside perimeter, and a central pivot wheel mounted at the center of the underside. The central pivot wheel maintains a slightly higher clearance than the perimeter wheels, enabling the user to engage a desired perimeter wheel by shifting his/her weight towards it, thereby making contact with the ground. All of the perimeter wheels are connected to a common flexible/jointed axle that encircles the disc, the axle being driven by a battery-powered DC motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Robert Wilt
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Patent number: 7690660Abstract: A leading or trailing arm vehicle suspension system comprised of a fabricated vehicle axle and a fully integrated beam casting providing bending stiffness to control axle windup and longitudinal stiffness to control axle position is disclosed. The beam casting is attached to the vehicle axle with a thru-bolt connection. The beam casting includes rack and pinion mounting attachment holes and also includes other built-in features providing efficient transfer of loads into the vehicle axle.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Rodolfo Rosales, Jr., Jerome Lim Cortez, Jerry Michael Lovett
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Patent number: 7690661Abstract: A suspension structure is configured to ensure a large stroke of a shock absorber in a suspension device without moving an upper end supporting position of a damper upward relative to a conventional mounting position. The suspension structure includes a rear suspension for suspending left and right rear wheels. The rear suspension includes left and right lower arms for supporting the left and right rear wheels by way of knuckles, and left and right rear shock absorbers interposed between the respective lower arms and a sub-frame of a vehicle body frame. A lower end connecting portion of the rear shock absorber is cantilevered to a front side of the lower arm.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuichiro Tsuruta, Takashi Shichinohe, Masahiro Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 7690662Abstract: A strut type suspension device which contains a strut (7) whose upper end is supported on an insulator (3) mounted on a vehicle body (1), an upper seat (5) arranged on the lower face of the vehicle body with a bearing (4) interposed therebetween, a lower seat (8) fixed to said strut, and a compression coil spring (6) arranged around the strut between the upper seat and the lower seat, and which supports the vehicle body by means of the strut and is capable of turning about a kingpin axis, wherein the bearing is arranged in an inclined fashion such that the kingpin axis and the bearing central axis roughly coincide, so that no rotational moment is generated about the kingpin axis. Due to the above arrangement of the strut-type suspension device, the strain energy of the spring is unchanged irrespective of the rotation angle about the kingpin axis, even if the amount of the eccentricity varies, and thereby straight traveling stability is improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2003Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Omi, Yukihiro Sugimoto