With Material-responsive Control Means Patents (Class 226/10)
  • Patent number: 11458747
    Abstract: A processor prints medium information on a medium using a printing head in response to reception of a replacement instruction for the medium, causes a printing apparatus to cut the medium in a state in which a downstream end of the medium information is located further on the upstream than a downstream roller, and, thereafter, enables the medium to be detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ikumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10449589
    Abstract: A method of forming circumferential grooves in pipe elements using opposed rollers to cold work the pipe elements determines the diameter of the groove while the pipe element is rotated between the rollers. A device for executing the method uses the instantaneous determinations of the groove depth in a feed-back loop to control the operation of the device and halt groove formation when the groove depth is within a specified tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: Anthony Price, Daniel B. Vicario, II, Matthew J. Puzio, Douglas R. Dole
  • Patent number: 9971290
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a sensor which emits light with a spot diameter serving as a predetermined size to a pattern for position detection formed on a transfer medium conveyed by a conveyance section, and outputs a read signal corresponding to reflected light of the emitted light; a processing circuit which generates a differential signal obtained by differentiating the read signal output by the sensor, and outputs a signal obtained through an exclusive OR of the read signal and the differential signal obtained by differentiating the read signal; and a control section configured to specify a position at which a image forming section forms a image on the basis of the signal output by the processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sueo Ueno
  • Patent number: 9529313
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet feeding section configured to feed a roll sheet; a sheet feeding path along which a roll sheet is conveyed; an image forming section configured to transfer a toner image to a roll sheet; a fixing section configured to fix the toner image by applying heat and pressure to a roll sheet on which the toner image is transferred at a fixing nip; a winding section configured to wind up a roll sheet; a guide member disposed along the sheet feeding path on both sides in a sheet width direction and on a downstream side of the fixing nip in a sheet conveyance direction; and a guide adjusting section configured to adjust a guide width of the guide member in accordance with an amount of shrinkage or an amount of expansion of a roll sheet passed through the fixing nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Shougo Fukai
  • Patent number: 8892234
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling at least one machining device which is coupled to a machine tool by means of an encoder signal, the machine tool having at least one motion control device. In order to improve the accuracy of the encoder connection, at least one additional variable which characterizes the transport is digitally transmitted from the motion control device to the at least one machining device and is used to correct the encoder signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Schnabel, Stephan Schultze
  • Patent number: 8714541
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus, for conveying a roll paper as a sheet and a cut paper as a sheet to record an image on the sheet, includes a sheet type selecting unit, a rotation amount measurement unit, a determination unit, a conveyance suspension unit, and a first conveyance restarting unit. The sheet type selecting unit allows a user to select a roll paper mode and a cut paper mode. The determination unit determines whether a conveyed sheet is the roll paper or the cut paper based on the rotation amount measured by the rotation amount measurement unit. The conveyance suspension unit suspends the sheet conveyance in response to it being determined that the conveyed sheet is different from the selected sheet type. The first conveyance restarting unit restarts a sheet conveyance by the conveyance suspended during the cut paper mode, by switching to the roll paper mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8712574
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for controlling the relative positions or phasing of advancing substrates and/or components in absorbent article converting lines. The systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate component placement detections and placement control on an absorbent article converting process. The systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control the substrate position. As such, the controller may be programmed to the relative positions of substrates and components along the converting line without having to account for undeterminable delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jason L. DeBruler, Andrew P. Palmer, Louis J. Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8712573
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for controlling the registration of advancing substrates in absorbent article converting lines. The systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate registration feature detections and substrate speed control on an absorbent article converting process. The systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control the substrate speed. As such, the controller may be programmed to track registration features on substrates and components along the converting line without having to account for undeterminable delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jason L. DeBruler, Andrew P. Palmer, Louis J. Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8712570
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for detecting and rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. In particular, the systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate inspection results and measurements from an absorbent article converting process. As such, the systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control a reject system on converters of absorbent articles. In some embodiments, the controller will reject only defective absorbent articles without the need to reject non-defective absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Kent, Louis J. Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8645216
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrolling a package is disclosed including: a receiving surface for receiving the package; at least one weight sensor in communication with the receiving surface which generates a weight signal indicative of the weight of the package; at least one video camera which generates a video signal indicative of an image of the package on the receiving surface; and a processor in communication with the at least one weight sensor and the at least one video camera. The processor includes: a weight module which produces, in response to the weight signal, weight data indicative of the weight of the package; and a dimension capture module which produces, in response to the video signal, dimension data indicative of the size of the package. In some embodiments, the processor further includes a recognition module which produces, in response to the video signal, character data indicative of one or more characters present on the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Proiam, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Murphy, Paul Yarin, Eric Metois, Will Crosby, Wilson Pearce, Mark Durbin
  • Publication number: 20120223116
    Abstract: Methods and devices control a de-curling apparatus. A roll of material is fed through a nip formed between a first roller having a concave shape and a second roller contacting the first roller. The second roller has a convex shape mirroring the concave shape. The methods and devices automatically and continually adjust the amount of pressure applied at the nip between the first roller and the second roller as the material is unrolled from the roll into the nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Derek A. Bryl, Adam D. Ledgerwood, Aaron M. Moore, Matthew M. Storey
  • Patent number: 8145343
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for controlling the registration of advancing substrates in absorbent article converting lines. The systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate registration feature detections and substrate speed control on an absorbent article converting process. The systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control the substrate speed. As such, the controller may be programmed to track registration features on substrates and components along the converting line without having to account for undeterminable delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jason L. DeBruler, Andrew P. Palmer, Louis J. Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8145344
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for controlling the relative positions or phasing of advancing substrates and/or components in absorbent article converting lines. The systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate component placement detections and placement control on an absorbent article converting process. The systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control the substrate position. As such, the controller may be programmed to the relative positions of substrates and components along the converting line without having to account for undeterminable delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jason L. DeBruler, Andrew P. Palmer, Louis J. Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8145338
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for detecting and rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. In particular, the systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate inspection results and measurements from an absorbent article converting process. As such, the systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control a reject system on converters of absorbent articles. In some embodiments, the controller will reject only defective absorbent articles without the need to reject non-defective absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Kent, Louis J. Cedrone
  • Patent number: 8140395
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrolling a package is disclosed including: a receiving surface for receiving the package; at least one weight sensor in communication with the receiving surface which generates a weight signal indicative of the weight of the package; at least one video camera which generates a video signal indicative of an image of the package on the receiving surface; and a processor in communication with the at least one weight sensor and the at least one video camera. The processor includes: a weight module which produces, in response to the weight signal, weight data indicative of the weight of the package; and a dimension capture module which produces in response to the video signal, dimension data indicative of the size of the package. In some embodiments the processor further includes a recognition module which produces, in response to the video signal character data indicative of one or more characters present on the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Proiam, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Murphy, Paul Yarin, Eric Metois, Will Crosby, Wilson Pearce, Mark Durbin
  • Publication number: 20110150552
    Abstract: A modular roll bar assembly for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a plurality of roll bars and a support frame configured to operably support the plurality of roll bars such that the plurality of roll bars define a web path having a non-linear shape with an entrance end and an exit end. The entrance end is configured to receive a substantially continuous web of substrate material, and the plurality of roll bars is configured to guide the continuous web past the exit end. A load cell is operably coupled to the support frame and configured to generate a signal indicative of a down force applied to the support frame. A controller is operably coupled to the load cell to receive the signal and to correlate the down force applied to the support frame indicated by the signal to a tension measurement value for the continuous web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Ryan McLaughlin, James J. Spence
  • Publication number: 20110062205
    Abstract: A method for operating a web-processing machine having at least one first driven transport roller (2) that transports a material web (10), at least one second transport roller (4) that transports the material web (10), and at least one treatment unit (8) that treats the web, at least one transport roller (2, 4) comprising a drive device (12, 14), and at least one drive device (12) being controlled by a control device (20), and control of said drive device (12) being accomplished as a function of elongation properties of the material web (10), such that when taking into account the elongation properties of the material web (10), a damping of said elongation properties is also taken into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Schnabel, Stephan Schultze
  • Publication number: 20100225723
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a roll sheet, a conveyance unit configured to convey the roll sheet in a first direction in which the roll sheet is unrolled and a second direction opposite from the first direction, and a control unit configured to control the drive of the conveyance unit. The amount of drive per unit conveyance distance at the time when the conveyance unit conveys the roll sheet is controlled so as to be larger in the conveyance in the first direction than in the conveyance in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keiji Okazawa
  • Publication number: 20100089962
    Abstract: A method for the control of a feed mechanism of a web-fed printing press, i.e., for the control of tensile stress and/or web tension of a printing material web to be taken into the printing unit by the feed mechanism, wherein thereby an actual value is compared with a desired value. According to the discrepancy between the actual value and the desired value, a control device for the tensile stress and/or the web tension produces a correcting variable for the feed mechanism. The actual value of the tensile stress and/or the web tension is determined by calculation based on a model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: manroland AG
    Inventors: Bernd Mehlis, Raimond Posselt, Ulrich Seyffert
  • Publication number: 20090283565
    Abstract: A measurement method for roll media comprises determining media thickness as a function of a relationship between media advance and media roll rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Jose Miguel Ibanez, Jose Antonio Alvarez, Daniel Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20090236385
    Abstract: A continuous paper feed device includes a paper feed unit that feeds continuous paper to an image output part; a slack forming unit that forms a slack of continuous paper on a paper transport path; a detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of continuous paper; a cutting unit that cuts the continuous paper; and a cutting controller that controls the cutting unit to cut the continuous paper during a time taken to tighten the slack formed, when paper more than a predefined value which has been set beforehand is transported, and if the remaining amount of paper detected by the detecting unit is more than a threshold value, the cutting controller performing control operation including reducing a length of a slack formed by the slack forming unit and transporting the continuous paper, followed by forming a slack again by the slack forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keiji ITOH
  • Publication number: 20090224020
    Abstract: When the paper loaded in a printer is changed to a different type of paper, the paper setting in the printer can be easily updated without a paper mismatch error occurring. When the paper is replaced or the paper setting is changed in the printer 1, the cover 3 is first opened, the roll paper 12 is removed from the roll paper compartment 11, and the cover 3 is then closed. A paper settings update command from the host device 32 is received and executed when no roll paper is loaded. After the command is executed, the cover 3 is opened, new roll paper 12 is loaded, and the cover 3 is closed. The printer 1 then indexes the newly loaded paper for printing, and executes a paper identification process to determine if the newly loaded paper matches the content of the current paper settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki OI, Hiroyuki MOTOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20090088889
    Abstract: There is described a method and apparatus for tracking the location of web features through a converting process, one application of which can involve tracking paper defects from a paper machine as detected by a camera system, to a winder where the sheet is wound to rolls so that the web defects can be repaired in the winder before making the rolls. The method to track web features is based on pattern identification of inherent sheet variability or defects. The apparatus involves two or more sheet property or defect monitoring web sensors arranged at the same cross directional location at different stages of the converting operation, augmented by tachometers and/or roll diameter sensors. A full automation system for drive control on the winder based on this information is preferably added to make maximum advantage of this information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Ake Hellstrom, Tommi Huotilainen, Antti Saarela
  • Patent number: 7393096
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a conveyance belt including a groove, a conveyance mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a control unit, and a judgment unit. After the cutting mechanism cuts the printing medium, the judgment unit judges whether or not a cut position of the printing medium will be located in a predetermined region of the conveyance belt if the conveyance mechanism drives the conveyance belt to convey the printing medium in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction. The predetermined region of the conveyance belt includes the groove. When the judgment unit judges that the cut position of the printing medium will be located in the predetermined region, the control unit controls the conveyance mechanism to convey the printing mechanism on the conveyance belt in the conveyance direction and subsequently controls the cutting mechanism to cut the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Patent number: 7033015
    Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a conveyance belt including a groove, a conveyance mechanism, a cutting mechanism, a control unit, and a judgment unit. After the cutting mechanism cuts the printing medium, The judgment unit judges whether or not a cut position of the printing medium will be located in a predetermined region of the conveyance belt if the conveyance mechanism drives the conveyance belt to convey the printing medium in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction. The predetermined region of the conveyance belt includes the groove. When the judgment unit judges that the cut position of the printing medium will be located in the predetermined region, the control unit controls the conveyance mechanism to convey the printing mechanism on the conveyance belt in the conveyance direction and subsequently controls the cutting mechanism to cut the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Takagi
  • Publication number: 20040129752
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and eliminating a twister in a running web of flexible material comprises
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Martin Kranich, Oliver Lenz
  • Patent number: 6752915
    Abstract: The present invention provides a web conveying apparatus for conveying a web while holding the web and applying tension to the web, wherein the conveying apparatus has a plurality of rollers with which the web contacts to be conveyed, and at least one roller of the plurality of rollers has a mechanism for limiting deformation of the web within Y/E, and a web conveying method using a web conveying apparatus for conveying a web while holding the web and applying tension to the web, wherein the conveying apparatus has a plurality of rollers with which the web contacts to be conveyed, and the web is conveyed while the deformation of the web is limited within Y/E by a mechanism that is provided for at least one roller of the plurality of rollers. The apparatus and the method prevent meandering of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Arao, Noboru Toyama, Yuichi Sonoda, Yusuke Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20040089693
    Abstract: A turning bar is used to turn a web of material. The turning bar includes an outer jacket that is provided with holes on at least one section of its circumference. An inner chamber of the turning bar is provided with compressed air. A piston is arranged in the inner chamber and is movable to block selected ones of the holes. A motor is used to move the piston via a control signal provided by a control circuit. The turning bar can be pivoted by 90° on a frame around a pivot axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the turning bar. A transmission couples a rotational movement of the piston around the longitudinal axis to a pivoting motion of the turning bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Anton Weis
  • Patent number: 6598529
    Abstract: A method for detecting faults during transport of a web in a web-fed printing machine, wherein web speed is determined by contact-free measurement, in accordance with the Doppler principle, includes the steps of: by applying microwaves, determining a first local speed of the web at a first measurement position; by applying microwaves, determining at least a second local speed of the web at a second measurement position spaced apart from the first measurement position in a direction of web transport; determining an actual value from the first local speed and at least the second local speed; determining any deviation of the actual value from a predefined desired value; and comparing the deviation of the actual value from the predefined desired value with a predefined threshold; a detecting device for performing the method; and a printing machine including the detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Tobias Müller
  • Publication number: 20030132263
    Abstract: A web speed metering device to which a moving web is fed at a constant web infeed speed and from which the web periodically exits at a different speed that is correlated with the timing of a downstream operation performed on the moving web. The metering device is a rotatable member that is non-axisymmetric and that has a cross-sectional shape having a centroid that is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to change the web output speed as the web exits from the metering device. The metering device allows a web to be fed to a downstream cutting device and enables the web output speed to be regulated so that the web as it leaves the metering device can be cut transversely by a non-instantaneous cut that takes place over a predetermined machine-direction distance, such as a chevron-shaped cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: John F. Droste, Joseph A. Eckstein
  • Patent number: 6499641
    Abstract: A rope system includes an endless rope, a measuring device and a rope cutter. The endless rope is configured to travel through a machine, while the endless rope is under tension. The measuring device is used to measure the tension in the endless rope. The rope cutter is positioned to sever the endless rope if the tension exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventor: James Dadd
  • Patent number: 6058836
    Abstract: An offset perfecting press is disclosed wherein a web is printed on both sides while traveling between a pair of blanket cylinders. In the event of a web break downstream of the blanket cylinders, the web is conventionally cut off immediately upstream of the blanket cylinders. Thereupon, on the downstream side, the web will stick to either of the printing cylinders due to the adhesiveness of the ink thereon, tending to be wound about the cylinder all the way down to the point of break. In order to prevent this a pair of opposed web cut blades are disposed. Intermediate the printing cylinders and a downstream guide roller. Upon web break a pressure roller is actuated into rolling engagement with the guide roller via the web, urging the web forwardly by inertial rotation of the guide roller. Thus tensioned between either of the printing cylinders and the guide roller, the web is held tightly against either of the opposed blades thereby to be cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventor: Kenji Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 5767963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting a yarn wind on a rotating roll partially looped by the yarn and associated with a yarn processing apparatus, and which includes a light source for directing to the monitoring range of the roll a light beam, which is imaged as a light strip along a surface line of the roll, and a light sensor with an evaluation device. The sensor detects the light reflected from a yarn wind, which is converted into an electric signal and may then be further processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Barmag AG
    Inventor: Gerald Berger
  • Patent number: 5691908
    Abstract: A number of identified actuators are adjusted by identical absolute values which have an effect on a web end only within a noise level. A series of transverse profile measurements are then carried out, from which in each case a previously determined mean value of the transverse profile is subtracted and the results are superimposed until a number of measuring signals, which corresponds to the actuators to be identified, stands out in a clearly recognizable fashion in terms of amplitude and/or shape from the superimposed noise components of the transverse profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jurgen Adamy
  • Patent number: 5606914
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the printing of foil webs in web offset printing are proposed in which strongly oxidatively drying inks are used, the printed foil webs are subjected to a heat-air drying, the printed foil webs are furthermore conducted over at least one cooling roll before they are wound up, and the tension of the web upon the winding is reduced as the diameter of the roll increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Cleanpack GmbH Innovative Verpackungen
    Inventor: Detta Borgardt
  • Patent number: 5574529
    Abstract: A method of inspecting a negative film in a photographic processing apparatus includes the steps of using a detector to detect location data (i.e., preforations) arranged at equal intervals on the negative film, electrically comparing the detected location data with equally distanced reference location data having a regularity and assigned to a standard negative film, and automatically stopping the advancing movement of the negative film upon finding a fault in the regularity of the detected location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Akira
  • Patent number: 5485945
    Abstract: Twin metal billets are fed to dual circumferential grooves formed in a rotating wheel. The billets are advanced first to a wedge-shaped gap which deforms the billets and are then advanced to a die. The die has a die opening with a circumferentially discontinuous, annular cross-section. The metal from each billet merges in the die opening and exits therefrom in the form of a slit tube. The tube is then opened and flattened to form a flat strip by advancing the slit tube over a forming member having a progressively increasing width. As the tube is advanced over the forming member, an alignment system maintaining the tube in a centered position. The alignment system includes a light source disposed within the tube and two arrays of photo-transistors arranged to receive light from the light source, the amount of light sensed by each array being a function of the position of the slit in the tube relative to a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Linsenbardt, Daniel H. Hickman
  • Patent number: 5438349
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing gaps between labels adhered to a backing material in longitudinally spaced-apart positions as the backing material travels along the print path of a thermal printer. An array of light-emitting diodes oriented transverse to the print path illuminates the backing material. A fiber optic detects the light transmitted through the backing material and passes the light to a photodiode. The photodiode produces an analog electrical signal indicative of the amount of light transmitted, which varies depending on whether the light has passed through only the backing material or through both the backing material and the print media it carries. The analog signal is converted to a digital signal which is processed by a microprocessor to monitor and control the advancement of the print media and backing material through the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Intermec Corporation
    Inventors: Duane M. Fox, Joel A. Schoen
  • Patent number: 5379659
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the working point of a web movement control device beyond the measuring range of the sensor is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: BST Servo-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Hans J. Schrauwen, Theodor Nacke, Jurgen Bettfuhr
  • Patent number: 5061947
    Abstract: A microprocessor controller thermal printer particularly usable in a hand-held labeler for printing labels on a composite web detects indices on the web and automatically adjusts the distance that the web is advanced based on a measurement of the distance between indices made during a paper loading sequence. The printer includes automatic jam detection that measures the length of time that one of the indices is being detected and provides a jam indication if it is detected for more than a predetermined time period. A solenoid operated braking mechanism retains the web in position upon completion of a printing cycle to prevent the web from being moved relative to the print head while the label is being applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Morrison, Richard D. Wirrig
  • Patent number: 5061946
    Abstract: A microprocessor controlled thermal printer particularly usable in a hand-held labeler for printing labels on a composite web detects indices on the web and utilizes the detected indices to position the labels relative to the print head. The printer utilizes an improved index detection system that compensates for variations in index size and density and for variations in sensor sensitivity by detecting both the leading and trailing edges of an index and utilizing the distance between the detected leading and trailing edges to determine the length of the index. By dividing the length thus determined by two, and by advancing the web by this amount after the detection of the leading edge of an index, the center of the index can be accurately located, and the web can be accurately registered at any desired position relative to the center of the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Helmbold, Richard D. Wirrig
  • Patent number: 4938619
    Abstract: An arrangement for position indication of an edge of a sheet, which is transported between a lower and an upper guide plate of a printing apparatus, can be simplified and improved with respect to its indication accuracy in that an elastic tape is provided, which extends in the transport direction, which projects with a bulged part into the space between the two guide plates and whose beginning part is fixed and whose end part is slidably journalled, a stationarily journalled electrical sensor being provided, which upon movement of the tape can be activated by its end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Helmut Eicher
  • Patent number: 4938404
    Abstract: A turning guide for a running web and which guide has a curved guide surface with air slots therein and pressurized air supplied from a blower is delivered through a plenum to the guide to form a cushion of pressurized air which floatingly supports the web. An adjustable damper operated by a servomotor regulates air flow and controls the clearance spacing between the curved guide surface and the web. Control apparatus for the servomotor comprises an electronic control unit, including a memory and a central processing unit (CPU), to which are connected an ultrasonic signal generator, an ultrasonic signal receiver, temperature sensing devices located with the ultrasonic signal sensors, a sensor responsive to blower operation, and a sensor responsive to web presence. In operation, after a desired web clearance set-point is entered into the memory and blower operation and web presence are established, an ultrasonic signal from the signal generator is reflected off of the web to the signal receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Advance Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall D. Helms, Robert A. Daane
  • Patent number: 4928198
    Abstract: A high voltage electrode device including a plurality of individual electrodes having end portions projecting beyond an insulating surface and arranged to form at least one group or electrically connected electrodes and apparatus for energizing and deenergizing each group of electrodes. The energizing and deenergizing apparatus includes a high voltage source associated with a respective group and having a control input for turning off the high voltage source wherein the high voltage source provides an output to the group via a current measuring device providing an output indicative of the current measured. A voltage measuring device is connected to the associated group and provides an output indicative of the voltage measured, and quotient forming unit responsive to the outputs of the current measuring device and the voltage measuring device forming a quotient thereof and providing an output when the quotient formed has a predetermined relation to a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Klaus Domschat
  • Patent number: 4924266
    Abstract: In a printer for printing information onto a continuous form, at least one of opposite side edges of the continuous form is detected by a side-edge detecting arrangement. It is judged that a traveling abnormality of the continuous form occurs, when a detecting signal representative of the at least one side edge of the continuous form detected by the side-edge detecting arrangement continues for a preset period of time and more. If the continuous form is provided therein with sprocket holes, the side-edge detecting arrangement may include a pair of side-edge detectors each for detecting the sprocket holes in a corresponding one of opposite side edge portions of the continuous form. In this case, it is judged that the traveling abnormality of the continuous form occurs, when the detecting signal representative of the sprocket holes in each side edge portion of the continuous form is not continuously outputted within a preset period of time and more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Ikuo Negoro, Masahiro Kita
  • Patent number: 4875610
    Abstract: A unidirectional traveling-surface-wave by ultrasonic oscillation is generated on a surface of an oscillator, and a magnetic tape is run in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the surface wave by pressing the surface of the oscillator against a surface of the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Nippon Hoso Kyokai
    Inventors: Tatsuji Kitamoto, Katsuya Yokoyama, Takuji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 4573619
    Abstract: A tape guide mechanism includes an edge-guide element extending radially from a central axis. A tape guide roller, rotatable about the central axis, is arranged for urging an advancing magnetic tape laterally in the direction of the edge-guide element, to maintain an edge of the tape perpendicular to and in continuous contact with the edge-guide element during tape transport movement. A piezoelectric actuator, preferably comprising a stack of flexing type bimorph elements responsive to a voltage signal relating to the direction and magnitude of a tape-tracking error, causes movement of the edge-guide element in a single composite direction having a first component which is perpendicular to the edge of the tape, and a second component, which is parallel to the tape edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Frederic F. Grant
  • Patent number: 4488670
    Abstract: A continuous forms feeder in which the restacking of the continuous forms is facilitated. Panels of the continuous forms are sequentially fed at a predetermined linear speed from a stack in a supply station through a work station, such as a print or exposure station of a reproduction apparatus, to a storage station. During the movement of the first several panels through the work station, the linear speed is reduced relative to the predetermined linear speed to provide more time for effecting proper restacking of the continuous forms in the storage station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Russell L. Godshalk, Richard L. Bray, Lawrence M. Wood
  • Patent number: 4485982
    Abstract: A web tracking system for a continuous web of material which is transported from a supply to a takeup means along a predetermined path via one or more processing stations and comprises aligned tracking indica along at least one edge of the web. Means are provided to observe the tracking indica as the web is transported along the system path and produce information either indicative of dimensional changes in the length and width of the web due to web shrinkage or expansion or indicative of a particular point along the length of the web useful at one or more of the processing stations in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. St. John, William A. Lloyd
  • Patent number: RE32967
    Abstract: A web tracking system for a continuous web of material which is transported from a supply to a takeup means along a predetermined path via one or more processing stations and comprises aligned tracking indicia along at least one edge of the web. Means are provided to observe the tracking indica as the web is transported along the system path and produce information either indicative of dimensional changes in the length and width of the web due to web shrinkage or expansion or indicative of a particular point along the length of the web useful at one or more of the processing stations in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. St. John, William A. Lloyd