Preformed Continuous Annular Binder Patents (Class 100/9)
  • Patent number: 11626598
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a first metal separator and a second metal separator sandwiching a membrane electrode assembly. Bead seals are provided on the first and second metal separators. The bead seals protrude toward the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member is provided on a top part of each of the bead seals. In the process of producing the fuel cell stack, pressure medium is supplied to a coolant flow field formed between the first metal separator and the second metal separator. The supply pressure of the pressure medium is set to not less than the supply pressure of a coolant supplied to the coolant flow field during normal operation of the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Namba, Naoki Kushitani
  • Patent number: 10981744
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a stacking tray, a control unit, an alignment member and a supporting mechanism. The control unit performs a rotational sorting. An alignment member includes a leading end wall coming into contact with a leading edge of a portrait sheet stack, a pair of first side walls coming into contact with both side edges of the portrait sheet stack and a leading edge of a landscape sheet stack, and a pair of second side walls coming into contact with both side edges of the landscape sheet stack and aligning the portrait sheet stack and the landscape sheet stack. The supporting mechanism supports the alignment member so as to be movable in an alignment position where the alignment member protrudes from an upper face of the stacking tray and in a retracting position where the alignment member retracts from the upper face of the stacking tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamada, Yoshifumi Okauchi
  • Patent number: 9789989
    Abstract: A tag applicator, and a method, for applying a tag, having an elastic loop, to a product. The tag applicator includes a linear actuator, and a pair of tag arms, one end of each being pivotably connected to the linear actuator. The two arms are biased toward each other, such as by a spring. A separator is positioned between the tag arms, so as to force the tag arms to separate as the linear actuator extends. A finger or tag hook is connected at the end of each tag arm, configured and positioned to connect to or insert into the elastic loop, and to extend the elastic loop as the tag arms are separated. With the tag loop held open, the product moves into the loop, and the tag is thereby applied to the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Northfield Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Kuehl, Rob W. Lindquist, Michael G. Boehm
  • Patent number: 8746136
    Abstract: A banding device includes a frame. A feeding assembly is mounted on the frame for feeding elastic tubing into the frame. A transfer assembly disposed within the frame includes transfer arm and fingers. The fingers receive the rubber tubing as fed. A cutting assembly is disposed between the transfer assembly and the feeding assembly for cutting the tubing into bands. The fingers of the transfer assembly move between a first closed position for receiving the band and a second open position for opening the band. The transfer arm is moveable between a first position for receiving the band and a second position for transferring the band. A banding assembly disposed at the second position receives the band from the transfer assembly. The banding assembly stretches the band and receives an item to be bundled within the band. The banding assembly releases the band about the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ben Clements & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: John Corbin
  • Patent number: 8308414
    Abstract: A medication dispenser provides automation to the steps of locating and acquiring medications to be administered to a patient. The medication dispenser includes an enclosure providing a secure environment for storing medications in multiple sized medication storage bins. The medication storage bins are hung in storage racks located within the enclosure. A robot system is also provided within the enclosure for moving bins between the storage racks and a medication dispensing area. The medication dispensing area includes doors configured to open to define an opening for passing a selected bin through the enclosure. The medication storage bin includes a bulk bin loading drawing for loading medication storage bins into the medication dispensing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Schifman, William A. Bedore
  • Patent number: 8245635
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands which automatically aligns a rubber band so as to automate a rubber banding process. The automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands includes a pair of alignment rods installed in parallel on a plate, screw grooves respectively formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the alignment rods, alignment grooves formed on upper parts of the alignment rods, limit parts formed above the alignment grooves to prevent an aligned rubber band from being separated from the alignment rods, a driving unit and a power transmission unit to rotate the alignment rods, a first sensing unit to sense the rubber band aligned by rotation of the alignment rods, a second sensing unit to sense a consumption state of rubber bands temporarily banded onto the alignment rods, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Zeus Techno, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Hyun Kim, Hee Soo Woo
  • Publication number: 20120097053
    Abstract: A banding device includes a frame. A feeding assembly is mounted on the frame for feeding elastic tubing into the frame. A transfer assembly disposed within the frame includes transfer arm and fingers. The fingers receive the rubber tubing as fed. A cutting assembly is disposed between the transfer assembly and the feeding assembly for cutting the tubing into bands. The fingers of the transfer assembly move between a first closed position for receiving the band and a second open position for opening the band. The transfer arm is moveable between a first position for receiving the band and a second position for transferring the band. A banding assembly disposed at the second position receives the band from the transfer assembly. The banding assembly stretches the band and receives an item to be bundled within the band. The banding assembly releases the band about the bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Ben Clements & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: John Corbin
  • Patent number: 7568329
    Abstract: A dual mode strapper for strapping an article is illustrated with a strap-forming mechanism capable of selectively operating in a first mode to pre-form an endless pre-formed strap of a predetermined length at least slightly greater than an initial perimeter of the article to be strapped, and in a second mode to apply strapping material directly to the article to be strapped and thereafter form the strapping material into an endless directly applied strap around the article. The strap-forming mechanism defines an opening in which the article is received. The dual mode strapper may also include a pre-formed strap holding area adjacent the strap-forming mechanism that extends at least partially around the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Cranston Diversified Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert E. Cranston, III, Montgomery Scott Cranston
  • Patent number: 7565789
    Abstract: A lobster banding machine having a tube feeder for feeding a tube of elastic material, a guillotine assembly to cut individual elastic bands from the tube material, jaws to grip and move the tube of elastic material, the gripping assembly having first and second arms, each arm having a finger mechanism mounted at a distal end for gripping a single elastic band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventors: William Lucas, Mario Lalancette
  • Publication number: 20090087717
    Abstract: A fuel cell (stack or a single cell) includes a cell module to which an aging process that progresses initial creep has been applied such that creep during use is reduced compared with a cell module to which the aging process has not been applied. A manufacturing method of a fuel cell (stack or a single cell) includes an aging step for progressing through initial creep by applying at least a compression load to a cell module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: Naomichi Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7497398
    Abstract: Embodiments of a strap roll up device are disclosed which may be used to conveniently roll up and secure tie down straps or other similar articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventor: Donald Mehrer
  • Patent number: 7322168
    Abstract: A dual mode strapper for strapping an article with a strap-forming mechanism is capable of selectively operating in a first mode to pre-form an endless pre-formed strap of a predetermined length at least slightly greater than an initial perimeter of the article to be strapped, and in a second mode to apply strapping material directly to the article to be strapped and thereafter form the strapping material into an endless directly applied strap around the article. The strapper may also include a pre-formed strap holding area adjacent the strap-forming mechanism that extends at least partially around an opening in which the article is received. When the strapper is operating in the first mode, the pre-formed strap holding area receives the pre-formed strap and maintains it in spaced-apart relation from the article before dispensing it from the holding area onto the article to be strapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cranston Diversified Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert E. Cranston, III, Montgomery Scott Cranston
  • Patent number: 7257934
    Abstract: A banding machine is useful for applying rubber bands on lobster claws, grocery bunches or other plural articles in need of bunching together. The machine has a pivotable sub-frame with two pairs of side-by-side fingers. The fingers in each pair are operable to move apart from the adjacent finger to spread a rubber band when placed on the fingers. The machine has two reels of a rubber tube stock and two pairs of grippers to safeguard controlled feed of the tube to band cutters. The fingers are each designed to facilitate disengagement of the rubber bands from the fingers when the fingers are spread i.e. in a band application position and an object, e.g. lobster claw, is placed between spread fingers of a finger pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventors: Roland Swift, Clifford Morrison, Kenney Graham
  • Patent number: 7047619
    Abstract: A tool and method is provided for the installation of radial seals such as for example O-rings into radial grooves. The tool and method can be used to install an O-ring into a dovetailed groove of an items such as a valve stem. The tool includes a first part having a first face at an angle relative to a plane in which the plane lies and a second part having a second face opposed to the first face and that a second opposite angle relative to the plane in which the seal lies. Compressing the first and the second part towards the two faces together squeezes the seal and urges it into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Wambold, Kirk VanAcker, Connie Mroch, Larry Norton
  • Patent number: 6981443
    Abstract: Apparatus for engaging and folding the limbs of a tree in a tree baling apparatus features opening and closing by means of concentric part circular tubes of a frame. When gaps of the nested tubes are in alignment, a tree trunk can be received within the frame then closed in by rotating the gaps out of alignment. The closed ring, horizontally engaged about a tree, is then drawn upwardly deflecting the limbs of the tree into a folded configuration for tying. No pivot arms are used as in conventional equipment, avoiding the problems of wear and distortion at pivot linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Dutchmaster Nurseries Ltd.
    Inventor: Marlin Tillaart
  • Patent number: 6024225
    Abstract: A chain of elastic bands (1) includes at least two elastic bands (3), wherein adjacent elastic bands are joined to one another by means of at least one bridging piece (4). The longitudinal direction (A) of the elastic bands preferably extends transversely to the longitudinal direction (C) of the chain of elastic bands (1). The chain of elastic bands may be produced from a flat, sheet-like web of elastic material (9), such as rubber, preferably natural rubber, in which essentially oval elastic bands (3) have been formed. The elastic bands have a constant width (B) all round. Adjacent elastic bands are preferably joined to one another by at least two bridging pieces (4), which are preferably each arranged at a transition between the adjacent longitudinal strips (5) and arc-shaped strips (6). The chain of elastic bands according to the invention can be rolled up into a roll or can be folded up to form a harmonica-like stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Terpo Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Henricus Jozef Van der Donk, Gerardus Dietz
  • Patent number: 5727454
    Abstract: A device for marking an elongate material moving along a longitudinal path includes a support with an opening therein for the elongate material to pass through, a holding/releasing mechanism on the support for expanding and releasing an elastic ring onto the elongate material, the holding/releasing mechanism including drive means for releasing the ring, and a defect detection sensor disposed upstream of the holding/releasing mechanism for activating the drive means to release the elastic ring onto the elongated material when a defect is detected therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Takikawa Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunobu Takikawa
  • Patent number: 5590592
    Abstract: A device for temporarily compressing or bending branches of a palm tree into a gathered position wherein the branches extend lengthwise upwardly from the trunk of the palm tree and for holding the branches in the gathered position during relocation and planting of the palm tree. The device has several embodiments, all of which include handles for grasping and forcibly urging the trunk encircling member, when closed around the trunk just below the branches, upwardly to inwardly deflect and temporarily hold the branches in the gathered configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Gary Z. Irvin
  • Patent number: 5588278
    Abstract: A broccoli banding machine having an electric DC motor drive actuated by an interrupted optical beam is disclosed. The banding machine includes a plate with a central aperture defining a depending cylinder. The depending cone has a light beam looking across the cylinder which when interrupted keeps arms having band engaging fingers in the band expanded position. Both arms and fingers are mounted above the supporting plate where access and view of arms by the banding and packing worker is provided at all times. Upon gathering broccoli to a bouquet with both hands, the worker places the stalks of the gathered bouquet into the cylinder, interrupting the light beam. Upon such interruption, the arms at the band engaging fingers are cycled into the bunched stalks, the contracted band released to the stalk, the bouquet at the stalks removed from the vicinity of the fingers, and a new rubber band placed upon the centrally disposed fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Dole Fresh Vegetables Co.
    Inventors: Ed Wynn, Javier Diaz-Infante, Peter deGroot
  • Patent number: 5385087
    Abstract: A mechanism for binding nails includes a cutter for cutting a rubber tube into rubber bands. A sleeve has a number of blades coupled to one end. A hook is disposed below the cutter for hooking the rubber band and for moving the rubber band to the blades. A rod is slidably engaged in the sleeve for expanding the blades and the rubber band. The rod includes a magnetic device for attracting nails. A ring is disposed beside the blades and moved relative to the blades for moving the rubber band away from the blades so as to bind the nails automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Chun-I Yao
  • Patent number: 5229178
    Abstract: The combination of a shock cord including a shock cord loop at an end thereof, a serving tightly disposed about the shock cord immediately adjacent to the shock cord loop, and a binding tightly disposed about the serving and connected to the serving and shock cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Martin S. Zemitis
  • Patent number: 5203260
    Abstract: A binding apparatus has a pair of arms provided on a frame so as to be pivotal in opposite directions. A gear mechanism interlocks the arms with each other. Hooks are provided on an end of each of the arms between which a rubber band, shorter than a bundle of cables in the peripheral length thereof is spanned having a slidable rod coupled thereto. A maintaining device maintains the open position of the arms, and a releasing device releases the maintaining device. When an unlocking lever is pressed downward by the weight of a bundle of electric cables placed in the center of the rubber band spanned between both hooks provided on both arms while in the open position, the stopper disengages from the gear and the arms pivot toward each other to place the rubber band around the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Fukuda, Hiroshi Kagei
  • Patent number: 5009153
    Abstract: A bundling device (10) is disclosed as having a tie assembly (12) and a receptacle (14). The tie assembly includes a seat member (16), a drawband (18), and a plurality of ties (22) each having one end attached to the seat member and another end slidably attached to the drawband. The receptacle includes a tray (24) having a horizontal bottom (24) to support the seat member and sides (26) extending upwardly from the bottom to maintain the drawband in an open, generally horizontal loop spaced above the seat member. Items, such as newspapers, placed into the bundling device such that they rest upon the seat member, between the ties, and below the drawband, are bound by pulling upwardly on the drawband at two points separated by at least one tie, thereby forming two elongated loops in portions of the drawband and simultaneously and equally tightening the ties about the items, and tying the two elongated loops together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Inventor: Joel T. Kaji
  • Patent number: 4715175
    Abstract: A binding apparatus for tying up a round bale of harvested material formed in a baler, which is mounted on the housing of the baler, comprises at least one cord supply spool, a cord guide mechanism for guiding at least one cord along the upper surface of the round bale to tie the bale up, and a cutting mechanism for the cord, which is connected to the cord guide mechanism. The cord guide mechanism comprises at least one cord guide arm and a cord disk having a gear unit. The cutting mechanism is connected by means of a connecting rod to one end of a pulling strap, the other end of the pulling strap being attached by means of a pulling spring to a transverse truss provided for the binding apparatus, and on the cord guide mechanism an operating mechanism cooperating with the pulling strap is provided, in order to tie up the bale once or twice according to choice, before the cord is cut by the cutting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz AG Zweigniederlassung Fahr
    Inventors: Siegfried Schaible, Hans-Peter Wolfle, Eike Gusewell, Bernhard Kohl
  • Patent number: 4603542
    Abstract: A receiving cradle for the pre-packaging of items (e.g., stamp booklets) to be oriented in and then dispensed from a criss-cross stack. Initially, pairs of rubber bands are placed on the fixture in a preferred sequence, followed by the loading of alternately stacked booklets forming the criss-cross stack to ultimately be placed into the booklet dispenser equipment. When the prearranged criss-cross stack has been set into place, the operator sequentially draws the rubber bands from their pre-set positions over the opposed corners of the criss-cross stack. The result is an integral stack, rubber banded together, forming a criss-cross booklet package in preassembled form, ready for prompt loading into a dispenser mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: General Aero Products Corp.
    Inventors: Eli Reiter, Joseph R. Robson
  • Patent number: 4519178
    Abstract: Apparatus for bunching vegetables and like articles and for placing a closure or tag thereon comprising a plurality of arms (27) for holding and stretching an elastic band and a channel (34) along which is fed a strip (15) of tags. As the elastic band is stretched taut to a smaller cross section, it intersects the tag and enters the aperture (20) therein. With relaxation of the elastic band the tag is pulled from the strip and remains on the band to identify the bunched articles. Bending of the strip by the arm end (45) weakens the strip connecting webs (17) to allow separation of the end tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Salinas Valley Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard V. Crabb, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4480536
    Abstract: The broccoli bunching apparatus is wholly pneumatically operated. In response to a first operation on a manual pneumatic control switch, a rubber band is pneumatically expanded in front of a central opening in a housing. Broccoli stems can then be inserted through the rubber band and the opening. A second operation of the pneumatic control switch results in the rubber band retracting about the stems and simultaneously a knife blade within the housing cutting the stems. Also, an ejector is automatically operated after a given delay time to strip the cut broccoli stems from the rubber band expander so that the apparatus is ready for repeating the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Demco Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Burns
  • Patent number: 4470241
    Abstract: Apparatus for bunching, trimming and banding vegetables and the like comprising a plurality of arms (20) each having fixed thereto an upstanding finger (32) means (22) supporting the arms for movement in a common plane toward and away from a common area, an actuator (28) for moving the arms in unison and a top plate (16) forming a center opening (18) centered about the common area whereby the arms can be moved to the center, an elastic band (34) placed over the upstanding fingers, the arms actuated away from the common area and a bunch of vegetables inserted so that movement of the arms back toward the common area will allow the elastic band to hold the bunch. A truncated cone shaped hollow guide (37) positioned beneath the arms will guide the vegetables together for bunching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Salinas Valley Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis L. Parry, Gary R. Cushing
  • Patent number: 4442765
    Abstract: A device for preparing a bunch of produce for shipment, display and sale by placing a rubber band on the produce and cutting the stalks of said bunch of produce to a predetermined length. The device includes an upper plate member, a lower plate member, and a vertically movable intermediate plate member. Centrally located stalk receiving holes are provided in the plate members of sufficient diameter for receiving a stalk portion of a bunch of produce. A plurality of movable pins are carried by the intermediate plate member and extend vertically through respective holes of the upper plate member for receiving a stretched rubber band. Upon depressing a foot pedal, the rubber band is released around the stalk portion of a bunch of produce. A cutting assembly which has a horizontally adjustable positioning block is used for severing the stalk portion of the bunch of produce to a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Inventors: William L. Limehouse, Thomas A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4401020
    Abstract: Bundles of vegetables such as broccoli, and the like, are banded by apparatus (10) comprising an expander assembly (18) having a plurality of arms (86, 86', 86") which swing toward and away from one another about axes perpendicular to a phase of an associated segment in order to expand and contract an elastic band (E) placed on the arms when retracted and permit a worker to place a bundle to be banded within an expanded band. A plurality of expander assemblies (18) can be mounted on a continuous conveyor (14, 14') formed by a plurality of planar segments (16) articulated to one another and each supporting a respective expander assembly. Banded bundles are removed from conveyor (14, 14') by an extractor arrangement (30) including a pair of opposed belts (32, 32') provided with flexible fingers (34) which engage the banded bundles in a protective manner in order to remove them from an associated expander assembly (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Seaco Industries
    Inventor: Robert A. Brux
  • Patent number: 4240245
    Abstract: A device for baling cut crop, comprising a baling chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port and a compression member adapted to move in the baling chamber, the compressing stroke of the compression member extends along the inlet port to near the outlet port and is equal to or slightly larger than the distance between the inlet and outlet ports; a construction of the device according to the invention is suitable for making bundles having a materially higher "specific weight" than the generally known "straw bales".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1980
    Assignee: Expert N.V.
    Inventors: Pieter A. Oosterling, Adriaan Van Zweeden
  • Patent number: 4188871
    Abstract: The specification discloses an article and method for banding objects. A clip is releasably secured to a common closed loop rubber band, thereby enabling one to wrap the band around objects to be banded together and slip the loop over the clip to hold it in place around the object. Alternative unique clips are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Inventor: Donald O. Teachout
  • Patent number: 4127978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for placing a band on a ball of yarn or the like, wherein the band may be placed on the ball by means of two band carriers displaceable with respect to the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Assignee: Croon & Lucke Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Florian Lucke
  • Patent number: 3974762
    Abstract: Apparatus for disposing rubber bands around a movable fixture in preparation for banding of a produce bunch, including vertically articulated pins disposed around the periphery of a produce receiving opening, the pins being connected at their bottom ends to a vertically articulated spring-supported platform. The platform includes a vertically adjustable false bottom surface which is depressed by the produce bunch to withdraw the pins and release the rubber band to band the bunch. Also included is a rubber band dispensing yoke, Y-shaped in planform, having disposed on the center leg thereof a supply of rubber bands and having the two distal branch legs engaging selected pins. By way of this arrangement the rubber band is aligned over the exterior periphery of the selected pins and can then be manually stretched around the remaining pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Inventors: Edward Kiyoshi Kita, Noriyoshi Matsui
  • Patent number: 3964380
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling sheets of material of various lengths such as consecutive plots from a computer printout device. The apparatus is comprised of a housing adapted to be affixed to a source such as the output section of a computer printout device. A takeup roller is mounted in the housing and is adapted to receive the material as it is fed from the source. When all of the material of a particular sheet has been rolled, a means ejects the material off the roller. As the roll of material is ejected from the roller, a securing means, e.g., elastic band, is automatically applied to the material to secure it in a rolled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Charles H. Meyer, Donald H. Sheffield, George N. Willman