Patents Issued in April 5, 2016
  • Patent number: 9302836
    Abstract: A ream wrap package formed by wrapping a sheet of polymeric film around a stack of paper, the sheet having at least one line of weakness formed therein, to form a rectangular tube with sides overlapping, sealing one side to the other to form a girth seal, closing the tube at each end to form an envelope seal with tucked in ends and overlapping flaps, at least one of which is trapezoidal, so that in the formed package there is at least one line of weakness extending along the whole length of a surface of the package outside the girth seal, positioned so that it terminates at each end of the package within a region of the transverse direction defined by that portion of the overlapping flaps where there are only two layers of overlapping film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: INNOVIA FILMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Amaia Cowan, Jonathan Hewitt, Leo Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 9302837
    Abstract: A method for opening a seal including a metal foil and a layer of thermoplastic resin via which the seal is heat-sealed to the rim of a glass jar or equivalent container, the rim having been coated beforehand with a heat-sealing primer, the heat-sealed seal providing hermetic closure of the glass jar or equivalent container, where the initial and final tear forces are not more than 28 N on peeling of the seal at 90° at a speed of 300 mm/min; a glass jar or equivalent container suitable for implementation of this method, where the coating of heat-sealing primer contains an organic and/or inorganic material in which organic and/or inorganic fillers are incorporated; and the application of this method or this glass jar or equivalent container to the packaging of processed food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN EMBALLAGE
    Inventors: Eric Martin, Boris Chauvet, Frederic Mertz
  • Patent number: 9302838
    Abstract: An easy opening bag comprising corner seals. A line of weakness extends from at least a portion of a first panel of the bag into at least a portion of a first corner seal of the bag, wherein the line of weakness is: a dashed line in the first panel; and a continuous line in the first corner seal, and wherein the dashed line in the first panel and the continuous line in the first corner seal abut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Martin Werner Frank, Hedwige Clara Theophiel Verherbrugghen
  • Patent number: 9302839
    Abstract: A volumetrically efficient plastic hot fill container at least one vacuum panel defined by a vacuum panel area of a sidewall that is constructed and arranged to flex inwardly in order to accommodate volumetric shrinkage that may occur within the container as a result of the conventionally known hot fill process. Advantageously, at least a portion of the vacuum panel area of the sidewall is formed as a plurality of undulations. The undulations preferably have a horizontal component and provide an increased surface area to the vacuum panel area relative to what a flat surface would provide. As a result, the amount of volumetric shrinkage that may be accommodated through inward deflection of said vacuum panel area of said sidewall is increased relative to a flat surface would provide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9302840
    Abstract: A container made of thermoplastic material having a body in which at least one side panel is hollowed out, the container including a central zone having, in a longitudinal plane, a concave profile, and an adjoining zone longitudinally extending the central zone and having, in a longitudinal plane, a convex profile. The central zone and the adjoining zone are stiffened, and the junction between the central zone and the adjoining zone defines a deformable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventor: Michel Boukobza
  • Patent number: 9302841
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a blocking element and its use in a protective structure. The blocking element includes a base and a first blocking plate. The base includes a surface and a recession formed downwardly towards the surface. The first blocking plate is connected to a first cross-connect part of the recession. The first blocking plate is used for pivoting on the first cross-connect part and includes a first blocking position and a first closing position in relative to the first cross-connect part. When the first blocking plate is at the first blocking position, a first blocking part of the first blocking plate protrudes from the surface. When the first blocking plate is pressed towards the recession to the first closing position by an external force, at least one portion of the first blocking part is contained in the recession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Tai-Ling Chan, Chung-Yu Mao, Chung-Kuan Ting
  • Patent number: 9302842
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to containers and other shaped articles (e.g., trays and dishes) for containing articles such as food products (e.g., cuts of meat and poultry or liquid-sensitive electronic parts) in shaped articles such as. In one aspect, the container has a reservoir portion into which liquid can be sequestered. In another aspect, the container includes a thermoformable substrate, a liner, and a lidding material, the lidding and the liner defining a compartment for containing articles. The compartment can be detached from the substrate by detaching the liner from the substrate without necessarily rupturing the compartment. A substantial portion of the containers described herein can be recycled by separating the liner and/or lidding from the substrate. The disclosure also relates to methods of making thermoformed articles having multiple layers that does not rely on use of a coextruded or other composite thermoplastic-containing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Converter Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Millard F. Wallace
  • Patent number: 9302843
    Abstract: A web container includes a web storage, a transparent plastic cover, and an intermediate layer. The web storage includes a bag which stores a foldable web and which has a first opening through which the foldable web is to be taken out. The web storage includes a take-out port which is coupled to the first opening. The transparent plastic cover has a polyhedron shape to enclose the web storage. The transparent plastic cover has a second opening provided on one surface of the transparent plastic cover. The second opening is engaged with the take-out port. The intermediate layer includes a flat sheet provided between the cover and the web storage and over at least two adjacent surfaces of the transparent plastic cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Kikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 9302844
    Abstract: A blade dispenser for housing a plurality of unshelled blades and dispensing the blades one at a time therefrom. The dispenser includes a housing that has tracks forming a guide, a dispensing slot at one end of the housing and a filling end at the other end of the housing, a pusher that is mounted on the track within the housing, abuts the blades and is moveable from the filling end toward the dispensing slot to aid in dispensing the blades and a spring that is located within the housing and engages the pusher and the housing and biases the pusher and the blades toward the dispensing slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ALLWAY TOOLS, INC.
    Inventors: Donald Gringer, Yuan Fang Cheng
  • Patent number: 9302845
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a non-rigid composite sheet comprising in order a first component having an areal density of from 102 to 678 gsm comprising a first fabric of filamentary yarns having a tenacity of at least 11 g/dtex and a UV and weather impervious first polymeric layer, a second component having an areal density of from 10 to 170 gsm comprising a flame resistant inorganic refractory layer adjacent to at least one protective polymeric layers, and a third component having an areal density of from 102 to 678 gsm comprising a second fabric of filamentary yarns having a tenacity of at least 11 g/dtex and an impact and scratch resistant second polymeric layer, the second fabric of the third component being adjacent to the refractory layer of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Dariusz Wlodzimierz Kawka, Karl K. Chang
  • Patent number: 9302846
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed herein are devices for the treatment of medical waste using high temperature and pressure steam. The devices are designed to be self-contained and are movable by one person of average strength and ability. The devices are self-contained and require no special installation, connections, plumbing or permanent or semi-permanent electrical connections. Disclosed and claimed herein are methods using the disclosed and claimed devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: STERILIS MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bell, Andre Philippe Nault, Robert Todd Winkowicz, Peter Bates, Benjamin Hall
  • Patent number: 9302847
    Abstract: A cassette support portion (706) is provided for supporting a cassette (701) containing film (702) on a support (704) for rotation in a waste storage device. The cassette support portion (706) includes a support contacting portion (740) and a cassette contacting portion (742) angled inwardly therefrom. There is further provided a cassette support (704) including said cassette support portion (706), a cassette (701) mounted on said cassette support portion (706) and a waste storage device including said cassette support (704) and support portion (706).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sangenic International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Cudworth, David Akerman, Jonathon Knox
  • Patent number: 9302848
    Abstract: A yard debris collection bag holding device holds a yard debris collection bag in an open position to facilitate collection of yard debris such as leaves. The device includes a perimeter wall defining a channel extending between a first edge of the perimeter wall and a second edge of the perimeter wall. Each of a plurality of top clips is coupled to an exterior surface of the perimeter wall and each of a plurality of interior clips has a respective main section coupled to an interior surface of the perimeter wall within the channel. Each of the interior clips has a projection extending through the bottom section of the perimeter wall to clip a yard debris bag to the perimeter wall providing access to the yard debris collection bag in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Alexander Wadleigh
  • Patent number: 9302849
    Abstract: In a method of controlling operation of a pneumatic conveying system (1) including a source (6) for generating transport air flow in an active state, transport piping (4) and multiple material inlet points in at least one branch (B1, B2, B3, B4) of the transport piping and communicating with the system through discharge valves (3) controlling emptying of associated material inlet points, material transport conditions of the system are sensed for each inlet point emptying operation, the material transport conditions are sensed at one or more remote locations from the material inlet points and a valve open time for the material inlet point discharge valves is determining for each emptying operation and based on a processing of feedback from material transport condition sensors (11, 12) of the system. A pneumatic conveying system as well as a system (16) for controlling operation of the pneumatic conveying system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Envac AB
    Inventors: Niklas Mattias Forestier, Martin Alfrost
  • Patent number: 9302850
    Abstract: A modular roller belt (100,200) for transporting articles is proposed. The belt comprises a plurality of modules (105) for transporting the articles, and a plurality of hinge pins (110), each for hinging adjacent modules of the belt about a corresponding geometric axis (GAX). Each module comprises at least one roller (115a,115b,115c,115d) and at least one mounting pin (1201,1202) for mounting the at least one idle roller to the respective module; the at least one roller is freely rotatable about a respective rotation axis (RAX1, RAX2) defined by the corresponding mounting pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: REXNORD FLATTOP EUROPE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Antonio Fiore, Daniele Coen
  • Patent number: 9302851
    Abstract: A fastening device is disclosed for releasably fastening a mechanism in the region of a floor of an aircraft or spacecraft and includes a base component and a latch component. The latch component includes at least one holding portion including a latch-component-side holding face and is movably coupled to the base component between an unlocked and a locked position. When positioned in a predefined mounting position on the floor component and/or on the base component, the holding portion of the latch component engages a fastening portion, and the latch-component-side holding face faces the mechanism-side holding face. During passage of the latch component from locked position into unlocked position a gap between the latch-component-side holding face and the mechanism-side holding face continuously widens. The invention further relates to an arrangement for a cargo loading system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Esser, Ali Lohmann, Jörg Pump, Sönke Hager, Johannes Völker
  • Patent number: 9302852
    Abstract: An aggregate processing apparatus comprising a conveyor support structure having a base section located at a side of the apparatus, a mid-section pivotably coupled to the base section and a head section pivotably coupled to the mid-section. The conveyor support structure is operable between a deployed state, in which the mid-section and the head section project from the side, and a transport state in which the mid-section is folded to extend across the first face and the head section is folded with respect to the mid-section to extend across an end face of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Terex GB Limited
    Inventors: Richard Byrne, Lee Johnston
  • Patent number: 9302853
    Abstract: A conveying installation has least one endless conveyor belt guided via a plurality of rollers along a leading belt run for conveying material or products and a returning belt run, particularly for manufacturing a paper web with a wire belt or felt belt. At least one of the rollers has an adjustable mounting for adjusting and correcting a direction of movement of the conveyor belt. A tensioning unit for detecting and controlling a tension of the conveyor belt has a pressure-measuring apparatus disposed at the adjustable mounting. A movement correction unit for detecting deviations of a direction of movement of the conveyor belt from a correct movement and for correcting the movement includes a sensor that is disposed to monitor a lateral periphery of the conveyor belt. A sensor output of the sensor is used for adjusting the adjustable mounting of the one of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: JUD Aktiengesellschaft Papiermaschinen
    Inventor: Klaus Bartelmuss
  • Patent number: 9302854
    Abstract: A conveyor system with an endless loop tubular system has an inlet provided for permitting material to be introduced into the tubular system. An endless loop flexible member extends through the tubular system and has inserts disposed thereon for moving material along the endless loop tubular system. A drive mechanism is provided for causing the endless loop flexible member and inserts to move in at least one direction through the endless loop tubular system. A novel outlet valve disposed in the endless loop tubular system is provided for selectively permitting the material to fall out of the endless loop tubular system by gravity, the outlet valve having an opening with an insert entry end and a insert exit end, a first side and a second side and wherein the insert entry end is larger than the insert exit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: INTRACO, INC.
    Inventor: Eric L. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9302855
    Abstract: A cleanable shoe-type diverter belt having narrow translatable pushers forming article-diverting shoes. Cam followers on the shoes below the pushers follow guides under the belt along an upper carryway run to translate the shoes along one or more transverse tracks across the width of the belt. Monolithic diverters support the belt on the carryway run and direct the shoes along different paths. Pusher returns in a lower returnway run guide diverted pushers back to a home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Guernsey, Jonathan J. Bishop, Timothy J. DeRoche, Kevin L. Gremillion, Matthew Vulpetti, Brian R. Lee
  • Patent number: 9302856
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the rotational position of a rotatable element of a rotary device. The rotary device can be: a filler, capper, labeler, a star wheel conveyor, or other rotary device. The rotary device can be part of a system that includes an adjustment mechanism having at least a portion disposed radially outside the rotatable element. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment element positioned to engage the rotatable element. The method includes moving the adjustment element and/or rotating the rotatable element(s) so that the adjustment element engages a rotatable element to adjust the position of the rotatable element. In some cases, the same motor that rotates the rotary device about the axis to convey articles is used to assist in engaging the adjustment element and the rotatable element to adjust the position of the rotatable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Clifford Theodore Papsdorf, Eric Shawn Goudy, Roger Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 9302857
    Abstract: A transfer pump for moving pellets of adhesive includes a pump housing with an adhesive inlet coupled to a supply hopper, an adhesive outlet coupled to an outlet hose, and an adhesive passage extending between the adhesive inlet and the adhesive outlet. A first air nozzle communicates with the adhesive passage adjacent the adhesive inlet and expels a first air jet that pushes pellets of adhesive through the adhesive passage. A second air nozzle communicates with the adhesive passage between the adhesive inlet and the adhesive outlet and expels a plurality of second air jets that draw pellets of adhesive through the adhesive passage by a vacuum force. The first and second air nozzles prevent clogging of pellets in the adhesive passage and enable movement of larger pellets than either air nozzle individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NORDSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Justin A. Clark
  • Patent number: 9302858
    Abstract: A method for handling packages in a beverage bottling plant, a method for unstacking packages in a container filling plant, a method for stacking packages in a container filling plant, and arrangements for accomplishing the methods. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Junghans
  • Patent number: 9302859
    Abstract: A system for determining vehicle loading and unloading comprises an acceleration detector provided on a vehicle, a location detector for detecting the location of the vehicle and a processor that receives information detected by the acceleration detector and location detector and determines whether the detected acceleration is due to vehicle loading, unloading or travel, based on the received information. A timer may be started, when vehicle loading or unloading is determined, such that the amount of time spent loading or unloading the vehicle may be obtained. Also, a condition of a traveled surface may be determined based on information received from the acceleration detector and location detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS MINING, INC.
    Inventors: Steven H. Vesterdal, Jonathan P. Olson
  • Patent number: 9302860
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet supply tray having a plate for supporting a sheet to be supplied to an image forming unit, a first sheet positioning member configured to move relative to the plate and position the sheet, a moving member including a first detection portion and configured to move in a sheet supply direction in response to movement of the first sheet positioning member, a coupling member coupling the first sheet positioning member and the moving member and configured to move the moving member in response to the movement of the first sheet positioning member in the sheet supply direction, and a restriction mechanism configured to restrict movement of the coupling member according to an amount of the movement of the first sheet positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuo Hirose
  • Patent number: 9302861
    Abstract: A sheet feed tray to stack a sheet to be conveyed to an image forming apparatus includes a platen on which a first portion of the sheet is placed; a pair of first support portions to support a second portion of the sheet folded back upward at a trailing end of the first portion; and a pair of second support portions to support a third portion of the sheet folded back upward at a trailing end of the second portion. In the sheet feed tray, the first support portions and the second support portions are reciprocally movable toward each other, and a distance between the second support portions is wider than a distance between the first support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, LTD.
    Inventors: Munekazu Hirata, Mitsutaka Nakamura, Takashi Fujimoto, Kozo Yamazaki, Toshio Yamaki
  • Patent number: 9302862
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet feeding apparatus, and a connection device. The connection device is interposed between the image forming apparatus and the sheet feeding apparatus, and connects the sheet feeding apparatus to the image forming apparatus so as to be detachable therefrom. The connection device includes a first exterior portion attached to the image forming apparatus, and configured to surround an access portion by a portion thereof being open, and a second exterior portion attached to the sheet feeding apparatus, fitted to an opening portion of the first exterior portion in a state where the sheet feeding apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus via the connection device, and configured to surround the access portion together with the first exterior portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keitaro Taoka
  • Patent number: 9302863
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pick height of a pick mechanism includes determining a media type for a media stack. When the media type is a first media type, the lift plate is raised to raise the media stack and pick mechanism until a first light blocking region of a flag extending from the pick mechanism blocks an optical path of a sensor indicating that the pick mechanism has reached a first pick height. When the media type is a second media type, the lift plate is raised to raise the media stack and pick mechanism such that the first light blocking region first blocks the optical path, a first light passing region of the flag subsequently unblocks the optical path, and then a second light blocking region of the flag subsequently blocks the optical path indicating that the pick mechanism has reached a second pick height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Michael Piening, Brian Allen Blair, Curtis Duane Woodson, Louann Behymer Samuels
  • Patent number: 9302864
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes first and second sheet feed cassettes and the like. When a lift plate and sheets thereon are raised in the first sheet feed cassette, causing a pick-up roller to move upward, an arm member is inclined upward from a holder side toward a lever member side. The lever member is raised by the arm member on a second flat plate portion to be in a horizontal attitude, and a vertical wall faces a vertical wall portion of the first sheet feed cassette across a predetermined gap. As a result, when the first sheet feed cassette is pulled out to a certain extent, the vertical wall of the lever member abuts on the vertical wall portion of the first sheet feed cassette, and a conveyance unit is pulled out together with the first sheet feed cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9302865
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are stacked, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, a slope portion arranged downstream of the sheets in a feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion and configured to separate the sheets from each other, the sheets fed by the sheet feeding unit being bent when contacting the slope portion, and a contact width variable mechanism configured to change a contact width in which the slope portion and a leading edge of the sheet, in the feeding direction, fed by the sheet feeding unit are in contact with each other by moving part of the slope portion in the feeding direction or in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Omori
  • Patent number: 9302866
    Abstract: A center-fed media feed system including a media sheet pick mechanism having a hub-mounted D-shaped pick tire having variable tread width along the outer circumference thereof and a media aligner downstream of the pick mechanism. The nip of the pick tire contacting a media sheet is disposed at a first predetermined distance from the media aligner. A wide tread portion initially contacts a leading edge portion of the media sheet providing a first media feeding force to move the media sheet toward the media aligner and, at a second predetermined distance between the leading edge of the media and the media aligner, a narrow tread portion of the pick tire contacts the media so as to provide a reduced media feeding force, allowing the media sheet to align to the media aligner and then be fed into a feed nip in the media aligner or a downstream feed roll pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Thomas Manor, Timothy Marc Brown
  • Patent number: 9302867
    Abstract: A single sheet handling device (14a to 14d, 30, 200, 252, 270, 350) for the input and the output of rectangular single sheets (38) respectively into and out of a container (12a to 12d). These rectangular single sheets can in particular be banknotes (38). The single sheet handling device (14a to 14d, 30, 200, 252, 270, 350) has a feeding device with feeding elements for the sheet-by-sheet feeding of single sheets (38) and for storing these single sheets (38) in a stack (36) of single sheets in the container (12a to 12d). Further, the single sheet handling device has a separating device with separating elements for the sheet-by-sheet removal of single sheets (38) of the stack (36) from the container (12a to 12d). The feeding elements and the separating elements are arranged separately from the container (12a to 12d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Holland-Letz, Ayhan Aslan, Ludger Hoischen, Martin Loeser, Dirk Brexel
  • Patent number: 9302868
    Abstract: A sheet feeder, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes an endless attraction belt that is rotatably disposed facing a top surface of a sheet stack, a belt charger to attract an uppermost sheet of the sheet stack, and a sheet separator to press the attraction belt against the sheet stack, bend a contact region to which the uppermost sheet is attracted and contacted to the attraction belt, and separate the uppermost sheet from a subsequent sheet or other sheet of the sheet stack. In this configuration, a curvature of a contact surface of the sheet separator with respect to the attraction belt is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ishikawa, Tetsutaro Yasuda, Manabu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9302869
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite core can include: wrapping a mandrel in a mandrel wrapping process by securing a mandrel with a winding jig; orienting the composite material at a wrap angle to the mandrel; and depositing the composite material around a circumference of the mandrel. The method can further include assembling the wrapped mandrels in a tool and applying a pressure to the composite material during a curing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventors: Phillip A. Kendrick, Paul K. Oldroyd, Levi H. Armstrong, Elizabeth Oberle, Kathleen Oldham
  • Patent number: 9302870
    Abstract: A drug package winding apparatus is provided. The drug package winding apparatus includes a drug package introducing unit to introduce a drug package, which is formed by packaging a great amount of drugs in a unit of a single pack having a dose of drugs and is not individually divided into single packs, into a body, a drug package winding unit to wind the drug package introduced into the drug package introducing unit, a drug package cutting unit to cut a boundary between one side pack and an opposite side pack of the drug package wound by the drug package winding unit, a sticker attaching unit to attach a sticker to an end portion of the drug package cut by the drug package cutting unit, and a drug package discharge unit to discharge the drug package having the sticker by the sticker attaching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: JVM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jun-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9302871
    Abstract: A roll for a machine for processing a material web, in particular a paper, cardboard, or tissue machine, has a cylindrical roll core and a roll cover which is arranged on the radially outer lateral face of the roll core. The roll cover has a functional layer and a connecting structure which lies radially between the roll core and the functional layer. The radially outer lateral face of the functional layer provides a contact surface which can be brought into contact with the material web or a covering. A plurality of pressure and/or temperature-sensitive sensors are embedded in the roll cover. The sensors are arranged in the connecting structure or at the interface between the connecting structure and the functional layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Breineder, Hubert Bischof, Matthias Schmitt, Yang Shieh
  • Patent number: 9302872
    Abstract: A web winding and measuring system is provided. The system includes a rotatably-mounted spool onto which a web of material is wound to form a roll. The system additionally includes a light-emitting device configured to illuminate the roll by light, providing a line on a cylindrical surface of the roll in a cross-machine direction, a light-receiving device configured to detect the line and generate measurement data from the detected line, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the light-receiving device and configured to receive the measurement data and calculate a diameter of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Bixler, Vivek Moreshwar Karandikar, Daniel James Wilczynski
  • Patent number: 9302873
    Abstract: A film treating apparatus includes a film feeder configured to feed a film having first and second surfaces, a film processor configured to process the film fed from the film feeder, a film collector configured to collect the film processed by the film processor, a fixed support unit configured to support at least one of the first or second surface of the film and to guide the movement of the film, and a variable support unit configured to apply tension to the film while moving from the first surface of the film toward the second surface of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 9302874
    Abstract: An apparatus for overlapping sheets and depositing them in a stack has a conveyor for transporting the sheets in a horizontal travel direction along a travel path toward a stacking region at a rapid feed speed. A braking device on the path upstream of the stacking region can grip the trailing edge of a one of the sheets. At least one supporting air bar extends above the path into the stacking region and has nozzles from which compressed air exits in the sheet travel direction. A suction belt above the travel path between the braking device and the stacking region is movable in the travel direction at least at the rapid feed speed and has suction ports that can be switched on and off cyclically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: bielomatik LEUZE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Schilling, Hansjoerg Klein, Markus Kremer
  • Patent number: 9302875
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting signatures is provided which includes a moving transport surface for transporting signatures; a pair of eccentric guide rollers, rotatable about respective axes, the pair of guide rollers positioned opposite one another to receive signatures therebetween from the moving transport surface; and a diverter positioned downstream of the guide rollers. The diverter is movable between a first position to divert signatures received from the guide rollers to a first downstream moving transport surface and a second position to divert signatures received from the guide rollers to a second downstream moving transport surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: David Elliott Whitten, Joseph Adrian St Ours, Gerald Roger Douillard
  • Patent number: 9302876
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for stacking media items, comprising a base member for supporting a stack of media items, at least one first registration member extending generally upwardly with respect to the base member, and at least one further registration member extending generally upwardly with respect to the base member and spaced apart from the first registration member, wherein at least a one of the first and further registration members is selectively moveable towards or away from a remainder one of the first and further registration members in an input direction of the media items. A method of stacking media items is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Joanna Phillips, Gordon Burke, Kenneth Peters, Joshua Bruce
  • Patent number: 9302877
    Abstract: Provided is a processing device including a shifting member that superimposes recording media during transportation and that places an uppermost recording medium and a lower recording medium on the lower side of the uppermost recording medium in plural superimposed recording media, a butting member that transports the recording media placed on the stack table so that edge portions of the plural recording media superimposed, and a pressing member that is arranged above the stack table and that contacts with the lower recording medium among the plural recording media transported by the butting member to press the edge portion of the lower recording medium against the aligning member, and then contacts with the uppermost recording medium to press the edge portion of the uppermost recording medium against the aligning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Yasaka
  • Patent number: 9302878
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatus capable of preventing damage even when actuator for detecting sheets loaded on sheet tray is rotated beyond acceptable range. A rotation shaft is disposed in the vicinity of a cover rotation portion of a sheet tray that is to be opened and closed. The image forming apparatus includes a connection portion and an actuator rotating in accordance with an amount of loaded sheets. The actuator includes a rotation shaft, a first rotor supported on the rotation shaft, and a second rotor that is rotatably supported by a cylindrical portion coaxial to the rotation shaft. The connection portion is configured to, when the first rotor rotates in a direction away from the sheet placement surface, make contact with, and rotate the second rotor in the same rotation direction, and rotate only the first rotor when the second rotor reaches a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohisa Ono
  • Patent number: 9302879
    Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus includes a support unit that supports a sheet that is transported, an abutment unit against which a leading end of the sheet supported by the support unit abuts, a postprocessing unit that performs a postprocessing operation on the sheet abutting against the abutment unit, a detection unit that detects an image formed at a predetermined position on the sheet and detects a position of the image when the sheet abuts against the abutment unit, and a changing unit that changes a position of the abutment unit relative to the postprocessing unit on the basis of the position of the image detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masashi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9302880
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet folding device including a folding roll that has a convex portion spirally provided on an outer periphery surface and is rotatably provided, and performs a folding process while pressing the convex portion on a sheet, and a phase change unit that makes a phase of the folding roll when the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll passes through the folding roll again different from a phase when the sheet passes through the folding roll for the last time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Awano
  • Patent number: 9302881
    Abstract: Provided is a pair of sheet transport rolls including a first roll that has a first convex portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface, and a second roll that is provided along the first roll and has a second convex portion that is spirally provided in a position facing the first convex portion of the first roll on the outer peripheral surface, wherein the first roll and the second roll are rotated, and a sheet is transported while being sandwiched between the first convex portion of the first roll and the second convex portion of the second roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Awano
  • Patent number: 9302882
    Abstract: A folder superstructure includes a former, a first top of former roll located upstream of the former and having a compressible outer layer and a second top of former roll forming a nip with the first top of former roll. A method for operating a printing press is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Roger Douillard, Douglas Joseph Dawley, Daniel Matthew Perdue, Brian Robert Elkinson
  • Patent number: 9302883
    Abstract: A core has a cylindrical wall that can be torn axially and is made up of two superposed strips, these strips respectively being an outer strip in contact with the product and an inner strip, these strips being wound on one another and joined together by regions of attachment for example by bonding. At least one of the longitudinal edges of the inner strip is not attached or is weakly attached over a determined width in order, over at least part of its helical length, to form a free and accessible tab facing the outer strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SCA TISSUE FRANCE
    Inventors: Damien Brendle, Benoit Hoeft, Pierre Laurent, Rene Sigwalt, Remy Ruppel
  • Patent number: 9302884
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, and a re-feeding mechanism configured to re-feed the sheet to the image forming unit. The re-feeding mechanism includes a fixed guide configured to guide the sheet fed in a sheet feed direction and having a guide surface partially defining re-feeding path through which the sheet passes, a base guide disposed downstream of the fixed guide, and a movable guide having a guide surface and configured to guide the sheet guided by the fixed guide and to move toward and away from the base guide. The fixed guide includes an engaging portion and the movable guide includes an engaging portion. The guide surface of the movable guide is positioned relative to the guide surface of the fixed guide when the engaging portion of the movable guide engages the engaging portion of the fixed guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Sugiura, Hikaru Iino
  • Patent number: 9302885
    Abstract: An elevator dispatching system includes a plurality of elevator groups, each of the plurality of elevator groups including a group controller and a plurality of elevator cars, each of the plurality of elevator groups serving a respective set of floors; and a redirector configured to receive a service request including a destination floor, and, in the event more than one elevator group serves the destination floor, communicate the service request to the group controllers of the more than one elevator groups, wherein the respective group controllers of the more than one elevator groups are configured to each determine a respective group score, and communicate the respective group score to the redirector, and the redirector is further configured to determine the best group based on the respective group scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Theresa Christy, Wade Montague, Jannah Stanley, Daniel Williams