With Means To Replenish Pack Or Retract Advancer Platform Patents (Class 271/157)
  • Patent number: 5944430
    Abstract: An automatic sheet feeder for an ink-jet printer that uses a solenoid driven cam to move the paper tray away from the pickup roller when a sheet of paper is loaded into the printer from the automatic feed roller. This causes the paper transport velocity to be steadier and improves the quality of printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho-Suck Myung
  • Patent number: 5915685
    Abstract: In addition to a separating blade which can pivot in and out and move in the direction of transport at a speed set by the stack pressure of the mail separation device (1) and back again, the proposed system also has a system with two separating blades which can also move in a straight line in the direction of transport and back again and can pivot into and out of the letter conveyor line. In addition, a charging module for automatically loading the system with letters is also provided. Once the letters have been loaded into the two-blade system, the latter moves towards the single separating blade. The single blade then swings out, travels behind the two separating blades which likewise move at a speed set by the stack pressure of the mail separation device (1) and swings back in. The separating blades of the separating blade system then swing out, move into their final position to receive new letters and the single separating blade conveys the letters to the mail separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guenther Bausch, Josef Mok
  • Patent number: 5908188
    Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding an original document, the time which is needed until the first original document is transported onto a transportation path after storing original documents is shortened. The original documents stacked on an original document supporting plate are successively supplied one by one in order from an uppermost original document. A discharged original document is steadily and easily inserted between the original document supporting plate and the original documents stacked on the original document supporting plate. When a hopper sensor detects that the original documents are stacked on the original document supporting plate, the original document supporting plate is moved upward until the upper surface of the uppermost one of the original documents contact a level sensor. At this stage, the original documents are supplied successively one by one from the uppermost original document by a paper feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Katamoto, Yuji Okamoto, Naoya Okamura
  • Patent number: 5890712
    Abstract: A stack of documents to be fed to a document feeding mechanism can be placed on a horizontal surface. A plate is movable relative to the horizontal surface and advances the stack of documents along the horizontal surface towards the document feeding mechanism as the plate moves relative to the horizontal surface. A body is movable between different positions and, when moved between different positions, provides a variable force which acts on the stack of documents as the documents are being fed to the document feeding mechanism. The position of the body depends upon the position of the plate relative to the horizontal surface. The body is coupled to the plate in a manner to allow the body to move between different positions to provide the variable force which acts on the stack of documents while the plate is advancing the stack of documents along the horizontal surface towards the document feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Phillips, Kenneth S. Seymour
  • Patent number: 5882005
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a large capacity paper feeder has a single pick-up roller capable of selectively feeding papers from an LCT (Large Capacity Table) or from a cassette removably mounted to the apparatus. The paper feeder, therefore, does not need a bulky paper feed unit for a cassette feed mode. In addition, a space for an LCT feed mode is not necessary above the pick-up roller, so that the height of the apparatus is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Araseki, Takenobu Kamada, Hitoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5879001
    Abstract: A brochure feeding unit comprises a feeding magazine containing brochures stacked on top of each other in the form of a stack. The lowermost brochure in the stack directly resting on a belt conveyor is withdrawn by means of the conveyor through an outlet side of the magazine. The remaining brochures in the feeding magazine are retained by a partition element. The brochure is withdrawn from the feeding magazine and is stopped against a locating member wherein the distance between the lower end of the locating member and belt conveyor defines a gauged passage clearance having a width greater than the nominal thickness of the back edge of the brochure. A pusher element movable along the locating member impinges upon the brochure back edge of the brochure in order to reduce the height of the back edge under the lower end of the locating member so that the brochure can pass through the gauged passage clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Tapematic U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Luciano Perego
  • Patent number: 5813670
    Abstract: A pile board receiver of a pile lifting device comprising pivotal entrainer hooks having respective pivot points from which the entrainer hooks extend downwardly, the entrainer hooks being vertically guidable and being pivotable in a direction towards a location at which a pile board is receivable in the receiver, each of the entrainer hooks having a hook opening disposed below the respective pivot point and directed towards the location, the respective pivot point being located beyond the location; each of the hooks being formed with a respective prong extending into a region of the receiver wherein a pile board receivable in the receiver is liftable therein; and the method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Burkhard Maass
  • Patent number: 5794928
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a large capacity paper feeder has a single pick-up roller capable of selectively feeding papers from an LCT (Large Capacity Table) or from a cassette removably mounted to the apparatus. The paper feeder, therefore, does not need a bulky paper feed unit for a cassette feed mode. In addition, a space for an LCT feed mode is not necessary above the pick-up roller, so that the height of the apparatus is not increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Araseki, Takenobu Kamada, Hitoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5778632
    Abstract: A hopper assembly for feeding literature to a literature dispenser. The literature dispenser and a label dispenser are positioned on opposite sides of a conveyor on which products being furnished with literature and labels are transported. The hopper assembly includes a chute which is designed to have an upstream chute portion adjacent the conveyor. The upstream chute portion is positioned within the reach of an operator who is stationed on the same side of the conveyer as the label dispenser, and a single operator can load both the hopper assembly and the label dispenser without moving from one side of the conveyor to the other. The hopper assembly also includes a literature escapement having a plurality of retaining members mounted on a pair of support elements. The retaining members engage a forward facing surface of a piece of literature and are arranged in spaced relationship to provide an opening through which the piece of literature is removable from the hopper assembly in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
    Inventors: Harold B. Dinius, Jeffrey S. Fluharty, Donald R. Perryman
  • Patent number: 5775687
    Abstract: A tray for a sheet processing apparatus has a receptacle (11), a lifting plate (12) movable between the low and high positions, arranged at the bottom of the receptacle and cooperating with an elastic thrust return member towards the high position, a lid (13) for covering the receptacle, and the tray has an arrangement preventing the passage of sheets between the cover and receptacle, having at least one clearance (44, 44') arranged on the periphery of the receptacle, and at least one plane limitation area (46, 46') arranged on the periphery of the lid and parallel to the bottom (37) of the receptacle, when the lid (13) is closed, the plane area (46, 46') being offset with respect to the internal surface of the lid and arranged on a support structure (48, 48') integral with the lid, this structure being positioned so that, in the closed position of the lid, it enters the said clearance (44, 44'), the plane limitation area (46, 46') then opening onto the inside of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Nakatani, Stephane Michel, Marie-Helene Froger, Alexandre Dodge, Christophe Truffaut
  • Patent number: 5775686
    Abstract: The invention provides a sheet feeding device in which a lifter member of a lifter unit for maintaining the level of the topmost sheet of the sheets loaded in a sheet holding unit at a substantially constant height is made movable along the direction of removal of the sheet holding unit in order to move the moving lifter away from the sheet holding unit if the lifter being released downward gets caught by the sheet holding unit being removed, thus allowing reliable removal of the sheet holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Miyake
  • Patent number: 5752696
    Abstract: A tray for a sheet processing apparatus having a receptacle, a lifting plate movable between a low position and a high position, an elastic member for elastically moving the lifting plate to the high position from the low position, a lid mounted on the receptacle pivoting about an axis and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a pushing member for pushing the lifting plate toward the low position against an elastic force of the elastic member when the lid moves into the open position, and characterized in that the pushing member is mounted on the lid and maintains the lid in the open position against the elastic force of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noboru Nakatani, Stephane Michel, Marie-Helene Froger, Alexandre Dodge, Christophe Truffaut
  • Patent number: 5749568
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for supplying printed products to a preferably continuously operating processing section with a plurality of stations. The stations may be feeding stations and each feeding station is assigned a buffer. Each buffer is provided with an arrangement for discharging printed products onto the processing section and can be charged via a mobile supply device. The supply device is designed for the transportation of a storage unit (i.e. a reel) containing a number of printed products. The supply device includes drive and conveying arrangements for the sequential charging of the buffers at a predeterminable conveying speed. The conveying speed is greater than the discharge speed at which the printed products are transferred from the buffers onto the processing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Walter Reist
  • Patent number: 5713568
    Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus of simple structure which enables supply of paper onto a paper feeding tray and replacement of the paper thereon with an excellent operability. The paper feeding tray is rotated to be engaged with a locking piece of an engaging member and held at a standby position. At this position, the paper feeding tray presses the locking piece, while the engaging member rotates around a supporting shaft and a disengaging piece moves onto the rotational track of a disengaging element. After supplying paper onto the paper feeding tray or replacing the paper thereon, when a roller drive gear of the paper feeding roller rotates, the disengaging element presses the disengaging piece, the engaging member moves in the axial direction, the locking piece withdraws, and the locking piece is disengaged from the paper feeding tray, thereby returning the paper feeding tray to a paper feeding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Tamehira
  • Patent number: 5685535
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device has a frame adapted for mounting on the image-forming apparatus, a slide sliding on the frame between a closed position in which the sheets are presented to the rollers of the apparatus and an open position for loading the sheets, a tray receiving the sheets disposed in the said slide and having an opening for distributing the sheets to the said rollers and also a loading opening, the tray being able to adopt an inclined position in which the distribution opening presents the sheets to the rollers in the closed position of the slide, and an inclined position in which the loading opening is presented to the user, in the open position of the slide, and a unit pivotally biasing the tray suitable for cooperating with the tray so as to make it pivot from one position to another in the course of the movement of the slide from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Stephane Michel, Christophe Truffaut, Hiromichi Nagane, Alexandre Dodge, Marie-Helene Froger
  • Patent number: 5678814
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a plurality of sheet trays each of which stores sheets to be fed. The sheet stored in the sheet trays is brought to a sheet feeding position by a plurality of sheet positioning mechanisms corresponding to the sheet trays, and is fed, one by one, at the sheet feeding position by a plurality of sheet feeding mechanisms corresponding to the sheet trays. Further, the sheet feeding apparatus has a motor which drives one of the sheet positioning mechanisms and the one of the sheet feeding mechanisms which corresponds to a sheet tray different from the sheet tray corresponding to the sheet feeding mechanism driven by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chujiro Yokoyama, Haruhiko Hori
  • Patent number: 5671916
    Abstract: An automatic sheet loader for automatically transferring sheets to a cardboard packer. The sheet loader includes at least a pair of chains disposed between upper sprockets and lower sprockets so that the pair of chains face each other to form a sheet transfer path therebetween, brackets mounted on the chains at predetermined intervals and projecting toward the sheet transfer path for supporting a group of sheets from both sides thereof, and a drive motor for driving the chains so as to move the brackets along the sheet transfer path for transferring the group of sheets. When the dimension of each packaging container, the number of packaging containers in each group, or the manner of packaging is changed, a different type of sheet is set. Since each group of sheets is moved and transferred from the upper side to the lower side by the chains, it is easy to distinguish the new group of sheets from the previous group of sheets during the exchange operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventor: Yutaka Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5620175
    Abstract: An arrangement for feeding sheets from a bundle of sheets includes a wheel, roller or belt which, in operation, is located at one end of the bundle and which functions to feed-out the outermost sheets of the bundle, and a lifting mechanism for lifting the bundle in a direction towards the wheel. The lifting mechanism includes a post and a bundle-carrying plate which is movable up and down the post. The arrangement includes a spring element which functions to lock the plate to the post in a rest state and has a free-end which is fitted to the post and defines, with the longitudinal axis of the post, an angle other than 90.degree. and whose remaining end is attached to the plate and movable perpendicular to the post. The arrangement also includes an actuator which is fitted to the post close to the spring element and which is releasably attached mechanically to a drive mechanism for moving the plate relative to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: De La Rue Inter Innovation AB
    Inventor: Peter Hesoun
  • Patent number: 5615875
    Abstract: In a sheet-fed printing press, there is provided a device for receiving sheet piles thereon, including a pile table movable up and down, spacers disposed on the pile table, and pile supports of respective sizes corresponding to respective sizes or formats of the sheets disposable on the pile supports, the spacers being distributed over and locally fixed to the pile table so that the respective pile supports of varying sizes rests on a selected number of spacers sufficient for safely supporting the respective pile supports against tilting, the pile supports of respectively smaller size resting on a smaller number of the respective spacers than the pile supports of respectively larger size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Martin Greive, Bernd Ruf
  • Patent number: 5569353
    Abstract: A labelling machine has an apparatus for the automatic loading of the main magazine of a labelling machine with a label stack including of a number of individual labels. The label stack can be inserted from a supply magazine by means of a feed device into the main magazine, which supply magazine makes possible both a smaller size and a smooth insertion of the label stack into the main magazine, because the supply magazine can be pivoted from a standby position into an insertion position, in which an ejection opening of the supply magazine is flush against the insertion opening of the main magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: KHS ETI-TEC Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Zodrow
  • Patent number: 5564690
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet supplying apparatus including a sheet cassette removably mountable to the sheet supply apparatus and having a rockable sheet support plate for supporting sheets, and a biasing device for biasing the sheet support plate toward a sheet supply device of the sheet supplying apparatus for feeding out the sheets; a locking device for locking the sheet support plate at a position spaced apart from the sheet supply device in opposition to a biasing force of the biasing means; a releasing device for releasing a locking condition of the locking device when the sheet cassette is mounted to the sheet supplying apparatus; and a buffer device for reducing a shifting speed of the sheet support plate effected by the biasing device when the locking condition of the locking device is released by the releasing device. The present invention further provides an image forming apparatus including such sheet supplying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhisa Oshida
  • Patent number: 5545286
    Abstract: A system for dependably supplying stacks of labels to a high speed labeling machine. The system includes four primary parts. A plurality of cartridges for carrying stacks of labels, each of the cartridges has a release mechanism at the lower end of the cartridge. A carousel for carrying the cartridges in a vertical orientation with release mechanism of the cartridges directed downward. An arcuate chute having a centerpoint of the arcuate pathway defined by the chute. The upper port of the chute is situated in the system to receive the release mechanism of the cartridges carried on the carousel. A retractable paddle carried on a first end of a lever arm, the lever arm having a pivot mount in common with the centerpoint of the arcuate chute, and a counterweight at a second end of the lever arm. The carousel includes a vertical movement to sequentially lower each of the cartridges into contact with the upper port of the chute and release any stack of labels therein onto the retractable paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Smyth Systems Company
    Inventor: Richard E. Schaupp
  • Patent number: 5494273
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding products, such as cards and product samples to a further processing point is disclosed. The apparatus has a magazine device which has at least two magazine compartments and a conveying device having successive grippers which travel over the magazine device. During a certain time period, a transporting member corresponding to one of the magazine compartments is activated so that it feeds products contained in the compartment one after another to the grippers as the grippers travel over the compartment. At a desired point in time, the active transporting member is deactivated and a transporting member corresponding to another magazine compartment is activated in order that uninterrupted operation is provided. While the subsequent magazine compartment is in operation, the previously active compartment can be moved from its working position and resupplied with products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Egon Hansch
  • Patent number: 5494272
    Abstract: A high speed sheet feeder for directing sheets to a host utilization device having a stack feed elevator platform accessed by a drawer provides a feed ramp for supporting a stack of sheets. Sheets in the stack are deshingled by a feeder singulator and driven, typically, downwardly to a feed tray extending remote from the singulator. The feed tray receives sheets in a space that enables formation of a second smaller stack of sheets. The tray further includes an opening adjacent the second stack that enables sheets to be slid from the top of the second stack. The tray is positioned and constructed so that it can enter and be removed from a port in the drawer of the utilization device. The feed tray's positioning relative to the port allows sheets in the second stack to be placed adjacent a utilization device singulator in the drawer so that sheets can be removed by the utilization device singulator for processing thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 5494274
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding products, such as cards and product samples to a further processing point is disclosed. The apparatus has a magazine device which has at least two magazine compartments and a conveying device having successive grippers which travel over the magazine device. During a certain time period, a transporting member corresponding to one of the magazine compartments is activated so that it feeds products contained in the compartment one after another to the grippers as the grippers travel over the compartment. At a desired point in time, the active transporting member is deactivated and a transporting member corresponding to another magazine compartment is activated in order that uninterrupted operation is provided. While the subsequent magazine compartment is in operation, the previously active compartment can be moved from its working position and resupplied with products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Egon Hansch
  • Patent number: 5441246
    Abstract: A cut sheet feeder for an image forming apparatus is basically formed of one sheet feed mechanism for picking up stacked cut sheets at a single sheet feed position, a sheet feed unit vertically movable relative to the sheet feed mechanism, a cassette detachably attached to the sheet feed unit and containing the cut sheets, and a sheet feed table vertically movably situated inside said sheet feed unit and carrying a large number of the cut sheets.. The feeder further includes a cassette presence detection device for detecting presence or absence of the cassette on the sheet feed unit, a cover detection device for indicating an opening status of a cover for the sheet feed unit, a mode establishment device for establishing a cassette feed mode or a table feed mode, and a mode control device for controlling the sheet feed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Miyata, Tomoko Nagano
  • Patent number: 5435536
    Abstract: A cut sheet feeder for use with an image forming apparatus, is formed of: a sheet feed mechanism for picking up stacked cut sheets one at a time from a single sheet feed position and for feeding each sheet to an image recording portion; a sheet feed unit which is vertically movable relative to the sheet feed mechanism and to which a cassette containing cut sheets may be attached in a detachable manner; a sheet feed table which is vertically movable within the sheet feed unit and which carries a large number of cut sheets; a plurality of detectors for detecting the positions of the sheet feed unit, the sheet feed table and the cut sheets relative to the sheet feed position; and a sheet overload detector. The overload is detected by the detectors with respect to the relative position between the sheet feed unit and the sheet feed table with reference to the sheet feed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Kosai Adachi, Masakazu Miyata, Tomoko Nagano
  • Patent number: 5431383
    Abstract: A cut sheet feeder for use with an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed mechanism and a sheet feed unit mechanism. The sheet feed mechanism picks up stacked cut sheets one at a time from a predetermined position and feeds each sheet to an image recording portion. The sheet feed unit is vertically movable relative to the sheet feed mechanism and has a first sheet feed table. The first sheet feed table is located in an upper part of the sheet feed unit and includes a cutout portion for avoiding interference with the sheet feed mechanism when the first sheet feed table moves vertically in combination with the sheet feed unit. A second sheet feed table is located in a lower part of the sheet feed unit and vertically movable relative to the sheet feed unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Fujimoto, Susumu Oshio, Kosai Adachi
  • Patent number: 5419544
    Abstract: A paper cassette comprises a paper stack tray provided on a cassette body, a stack tray locking mechanism for locking the paper stack tray and releasing the lock when the cassette is inserted into the cassette receptacle, and a first restoring member for pushing the paper stack tray toward a supply roller and bringing the paper when the lock of the stack tray locking mechanism is released. The stack tray locking mechanism comprises a pivot member provided on the cassette body such that the pivot member is free to pivot, a locking member which engages with the pivot member, and engages the paper stack tray in the locked position, and a second restoring member for pushing the pivot member in such a direction that the pivot member comes in contact with the supply roller so as to engage the locking member with the paper stack tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Ono, Masahiro Fukuda, Shigeki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5411246
    Abstract: A paper feeder capable of reducing its installation space and manufacturing cost, wherein a paper feed table which can be lifted or lowered being held horizontal is provided with an opening section. In order to load paper sheets onto the paper feed table directly from above, the opening section is made openable at the upper part thereof when the paper feeder is in a paper feeding state during which paper sheets are picked up and fed to a photosensitive drum or other device. The paper feeder also has a pick-up member for picking up the paper sheets thus loaded onto the paper feed table one after another starting with the top sheet in order to feed them to the photosensitive drum or other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nonomura, Hiroshi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 5398931
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved automated dispensing apparatus for flat paper object, such as ATM (Automated Teller Machines) or CD (Cash Dispensers), which can enhance the working efficiency and the service for customers. According to this apparatus, inner cassette 5 can be drawn out together with intermediate portion pushing member 12 leaving outer cassette 4 at a fixed position in the dispenser main body. While intermediate portion pushing member 12 is filled with supplementary sheet papers, the sheet papers 8 still remaining in outer cassette 4 are kept to be pushed by end portion pushing members 11a, 11b. Thereafter, when inner cassette 5 is returned into outer cassette 4, both the end portion pushing members 11a, 11b and the intermediate portion pushing member 12 are returned to the initial state for dispensing a new pile of sheet papers 8 including the supplementary ones. During that supplementation, the sheet paper dispensing operation by this apparatus can be continued without any interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Toyo Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Tohgoh
  • Patent number: 5342036
    Abstract: A high speed sheet feeder for directing sheets to a host utilization device having a stack feed elevator platform accessed by a drawer provides a feed ramp for supporting a stack of sheets. Sheets in the stack are deshingled by a feeder singulator and driven, typically, downwardly to a feed tray extending remote from the singulator. The feed tray receives sheets in a space that enables formation of a second smaller stack of sheets. The tray further includes an opening adjacent the second stack that enables sheets to be slid from the top of the second stack. The tray is positioned and constructed so that it can enter and be removed from a port in the drawer of the utilization device. The feed tray's positioning relative to the port allows sheets in the second stack to be placed adjacent a utilization device singulator in the drawer so that sheets can be removed by the utilization device singulator for processing thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 5335901
    Abstract: A paper feeder capable of reducing its installation space and manufacturing cost, wherein a paper feed table which can be lifted or lowered being held horizontal is provided with an opening section. In order to load paper sheets onto the paper feed table directly from above, the opening section is made openable upwards when the paper feeder is in a paper feeding state during which paper sheets are picked up and fed to a photosensitive drum or similar device. The paper feeder also has a pick-up member for picking up the paper sheets thus loaded onto the paper feed table one after another starting with the top sheet in order to feed them to the photosensitive drum or similar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nonomura, Hiroshi Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 5335903
    Abstract: A variable sheet sized sheet feeder adapted to be reloaded while running in a dual tray mode. A dual tray sheet feeder having a sheet transport to reload a stack of sheets from a holding station to an active feed station is provided. The dual tray design allows the holding station to be reloaded while the active tray is feeding thereby providing load while run capability. The feed tray is further provided with tray extensions to allow the loading and feeding of oversized sheets within the same confines. Multiple sensors and movable stack guides are provided to allow the transfer of the sheet stack from one tray to another and to report the status of each tray to the operator through a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Martin, George J. Roller, Richard Van Dongen
  • Patent number: 5294105
    Abstract: A recording sheet feeding apparatus comprises a tray frame with four vertical walls which surround an inner space, a stacking plate which is movable in the vertical direction within the inner space guided by the vertical walls, a winding roller for moving the stacking plate through a mechanical transmission which converts a rotation of the winding roller to the vertical movement of the stacking plate and a counterweight means for lifting up the stacking plate by applying a counterweight torque to the winding roller in accordance with the rotation angle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kaburagi, Yasuhiro Matsui
  • Patent number: 5292114
    Abstract: An automatic feeder module for a mail sorting system including a cabinet having first and second ends and an upper planar surface, a conveyor belt having an upper run travelling along the upper surface of the cabinet, a drive plate linearly driven along the conveyor belt at the same speed as a conveyor belt and having a forward side and a rearward side, means for driving the conveyor belt and the drive plate at the same speed, and a singulator assembly including pick-off means against which a stack of mail is pressed by the drive plate and the conveyor belt, and a stack pressure switch for turning the driving means on and off to maintain a predetermined stack pressure against the pick-off means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: William P. McConnell
  • Patent number: 5292116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet supporting tray removably mountable within the sheet feeding apparatus and adapted to stack and support sheets, a regulating device provided on the sheet supporting tray and adapted to regulate and position lateral edges of the sheets stacked in the sheet supporting tray, an urging mechanism for urging with a predetermined urging force the sheets stacked in the sheet supporting tray against the regulating device, and an urging force adjusting mechanism for adjusting the urging mechanism so that the urging mechanism can urge the sheets against the regulating device with greater force during insertion of the sheet supporting tray into the sheet feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryukichi Inoue, Yutaka Kikuchi, Yasuyoshi Hayakawa, Naoki Asano, Kazuhiro Nomoto
  • Patent number: 5284335
    Abstract: A multi-ream paper sheet feeder for use with high speed copiers, printing machines and the like "host machines" has a sturdy frame supporting an upwardly sloping ramp overlying a motor driven feed screw. A pusher plate drives a feed block of as many as thirty reams of edgewise stacked paper sheets up the ramp to a singulating feed assembly. A feed screw drive nut carriage engages and drives the pusher plate up ramp, then disengages, retracts under the ramp and travels to a new start position at the ramp's lower end. Sensors and limit switches govern forward and reverse feed screw motor operation; another sensor governs the operation of the singulating feed assembly, delivering shingled sheets on demand to the feeder's infeed tray. The entire sheet feeder is track-mounted, latched in feed position, disengageable for retraction away from the host machine when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 5273266
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reserving type original feeding apparatus comprising a circulating original feeding portion having a first stack tray on which originals are supported, a first separating/supplying means unit for separating and supplying the originals supported in the first stack tray one by one from the bottom, an introduction sheet path for introducing the original supplied by the first separating/supplying unit to a processing portion, and an ejection sheet path for introducing the original processed by the processing portion to the first supply tray from the processing portion; a reserving original feeding portion having a second stack tray on which originals are supported, a second separating/supplying unit for separating and supplying the originals supported in the second stack tray one by one from the bottom, and a second introduction sheet path for introducing the original supplied by the second separating/supplying unit to the processing portion; an original ejector tray arranged subs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Kitahara, Yuji Takahashi, Noriyoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 5271706
    Abstract: A movable cart has an air deck with a gripper assembly mounted thereon which has two opposed gripper arms which may be extended into a jogger/aerator to engage and grip a stack of paper supported on an air deck therein and to withdraw the stack fully onto the cart. The cart is movable between the jogger/aerator and one or more sheet feeding apparatus. Each sheet-feeding apparatus is outfitted with an air deck onto which the loaded sheet stack may be automatically unloaded. A transfer deck has a plurality of swords with spring-loaded dogs for storing a stack of paper and advancing the stored stack into the sheet-feeding apparatus upon exhaustion of its sheet supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: HKM Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Helbach, Ronald Zyduck, Perry J. Jewell
  • Patent number: 5248137
    Abstract: An apparatus in which a stack of sheets is detected at a preselected location. An air jet is directed towards an edge of the stack of sheets at a preselected location. A pressure transducer is located at the prescribed location and positioned to have the air jet at impact thereon. The pressure transducer is enabled to transmit a signal indicative of the absence of the stack of sheets at the preselected location in response to the air jet impacting thereon. The pressure transducer is inhibited from transmitting the signal in response to the stack of sheets blocking the air jet. When the stack of sheets blocks the air jet, the signal from the pressure transducer indicates the presence of the stack of sheets at the preselected location. A pneumatic stack height detector of this type may be used to regulate the movement of a stack of sheets used in electrophotographic printing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas T. Rabjohns
  • Patent number: 5246221
    Abstract: A paper feeding device comprising a tray storing case attachable to and removable from a device housing; a rotatable tray, provided in the tray storing case, which rotates copy paper to a longitudinal and lateral feed position; and a mechanism for lifting up a paper-feed end of a paper holding plate provided in the tray when paper is to be fed. The mechanism is composed of a guide member provided in the device housing; a lift-up guide provided on a side face located on a paper-feed end of the tray; a first rotary bar provided in the tray storing case and driven by the guide member when the tray is attached thereon; and a second rotary bar, a spring and a lift plate driven by the lift-up guide when the tray is in the paper-feed position. The first and second bars are driven simultaneously, thus lifting up the paper-feed end of the paper holding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Sugimoto, Kenji Okada, Hiranaga Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5240244
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for prestacking in a sheet feeder of a rotary printing press provided with lateral stack stops, which can be adjusted to the format of the sheet to be printed, the printing press also having an automatic lateral stacking orientation and a stack raising apparatus, which are designed so that they make possible an easy manual prestacking in the sheet feeder by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Pollich, Heiner Luxem
  • Patent number: 5228676
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus provided with an urging device to urge the lift shaft, the lift gear or the lift plate in a direction opposite the insertion direction of the sheet feeding cassette, so as to disengage the lift shaft from the lift shaft drive. Insertion of the sheet feeding cassette pushes the lift shaft, lift gear or lift plate against the urging device, thereby engaging the lift shaft with the lift shaft drive. Alternately, rather than employing the urging device, the sheet feeding cassette may pull the lift shaft out of engagement with the lift drive by pulling the lifted lift plate in direction opposite the insertion direction of the sheet feeding cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Arai, Masahiko Nakao
  • Patent number: 5213321
    Abstract: A hopper loader for transporting sheets in an edge-standing arrangement and having a pivotal module for loading the sheets therein. The pivotal module is then pivoted downwardly to a horizontal position to align with another module which receives the sheets and continues to move the sheets to their destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventor: Walter J. Stobb
  • Patent number: 5211529
    Abstract: A staging hopper for supplying packaging blanks includes a first conveyor positioned downstream of a second conveyor. The first conveyor supports and periodically transfers packaging blanks in a primary group of blanks to a blank delivery position. A second conveyor supports and intermittently transfers packaging blanks in a secondary group of blanks onto the first conveyor. The top edges of the secondary group of blanks rest at an angle against the primary group of blanks to define a longitudinal gap between the lower edges of the blanks in the primary and secondary groups. Photosensors are provided to detect the presence and absence of packaging blanks within the longitudinal gap. In addition to advancing the primary group of blanks, the first conveyor advances the forward blanks in the secondary group across the gap toward the primary group. The photosensors detect the presence of these blanks as their lower edges move across the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: R. A. Pearson Company
    Inventors: David A. Esala, Michael J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5205550
    Abstract: A device for blocking or intercepting sheets for a sheet feeder may be applied to copiers, printers and similar office machines, and comprises a lever (32) capable of detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the sheet entry hopper (16). The lever controls a stop member (42) to prevent the introduction of further sheets when at least one sheet is still present in a hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Olivetti-Canon Industriale S.p.A.
    Inventor: Andrea Perino
  • Patent number: 5201509
    Abstract: A method of controlling a drive unit of a pile-lifting device located at a sheet-fed printing machine includes starting-up the drive unit with a first mode of operation selected by an electronic current wherein rated torque is high and rated speed is low for respectively lifting and lowering the pile and, after a given period of time, following the starting-up of the drive unit, switching to a second mode of operation of the drive unit wherein the rated torque is low and the rated speed is high if the speed has exceeded a preset value during a lifting of the pile, and has not exceeded a preset value during a lowering of the pile; and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Kirchhoff, Helmut Meyer, Christian Thomas
  • Patent number: 5186447
    Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic filling of magazines which receive a stack of package forming blanks, the magazine having an essentially vertical shaft and the blanks being extracted from the lower end of the shaft, the apparatus having a conveyor which may be energized in response to the sensing of the top of a stack of blanks located in the magazine. The conveyor, when energized, delivers a further stack into an extension of the magazine where the further stack is temporarily supported on movable support plates before being released to fall onto the stack already in the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfred Schmermund GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Siegfried Knecht
  • Patent number: 5181712
    Abstract: The device for the introduction of sheets makes it possible to introduce a stack of sheets through an auxiliary input or by-pass in addition to or as an alternative to the normal cassettes for sheets, with which the machine is fitted. A roll (57) rotating on a shaft (58) separates sheets from a stack inserted into a tray (54). A lever (68) is movable from a rest position to a function position. When the lever is moved to the functional position it causes a unidirectional clutch (86) mounted on the shaft to reverse the direction of rotation of the roll thereby moving sheets back to the tray. The lever also moves a cam (76) such that when the lever moved to the functional position, the tray is moved away from the roll such that additional sheets can be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Olivetti-Canon Industriale S.p.A.
    Inventor: Andrea Perino