With Means To Replenish Pack Or Retract Advancer Platform Patents (Class 271/157)
  • Patent number: 5172901
    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: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Sugimoto, Kenji Okada, Hiranaga Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5171125
    Abstract: A sheet material handling apparatus includes a container handling assembly which is operable to sequentially position containers at an unloading station. An unloader assembly is operable to remove stacks of sheet material from containers at the unloading station. The unloader assembly includes a lift assembly which is operable to engage a stack of sheet material disposed in a container and to lift the stack of sheet material upwardly through an open lower end portion of an upright hopper. Once the stack of sheet material has been moved into the hopper, the hopper and the stack of sheet material are moved to a tilted orientation. As the hopper moves to the tilted orientation, the hopper moves the stack of sheet material along an upwardly inclined ramp into engagement with a sheet material feed assembly. The sheet material feed assembly sequentially feeds sheet material from the lower end portion of the tilted stack of sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: AM International Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen R. Kleinhen
  • Patent number: 5170950
    Abstract: A feeding device including a cassette removably mounted in the main body of a copying machine to which the feeding device is adapted, a pivotal paper holding plate which is disposed within the cassette and capable of being raised, a lift member for raising the pivotal paper holding plate to an inclined dispensing position, disposed under the pivotal paper holding plate so as to pivot on a vertical plane, a rotary lift-up member for allowing the lift member to pivot thereon, the lift member being secured to the rotary lift-up member, a driving device for transmitting a driving force to the rotary lift-up member, a coupling device interposed in the driving device, for effecting and suspending the transmission of the driving force for rotating the rotary lift-up member, wherein when the cassette is taken out from the main body, the lift member pivots downward due to its own weight, thereby releasing the pivotal paper holding plate from its raised condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoaki Okitsu, Yuji Sugimoto, Kenichi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 5167408
    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 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Intelligent Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 5165678
    Abstract: A paper feed device for holding a stack of printing paper sheets, has a paper holder box, a paper support bed on which the paper sheets are adapted to be placed and an elevator mechanism for moving the paper support bed upward and downward, a sensor detects the height of the paper sheets, whereby at the time of supply of the paper sheets, the paper support bed is moved downward so that the level of the paper sheets can be at a predetermined height relative to an upper end of the paper holder box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Koseki, Makoto Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 5163670
    Abstract: A dual bin paper feed tray is removably insertable into the standard height tray-receiving housing opening of an image reproduction machine such as a printer or copier. The tray has adjacent front and rear paper holding bin areas each configured to hold a stack of approximately 250 cut paper sheets, the overall tray thus being adapted to hold the entire contents of a standard one ream package of cut paper sheets. In operation, the loaded tray is inserted, front end first, into the housing opening and the machine's paper feed system operates to sequentially feed paper sheets from the front tray bin into the machine. When the machine's paper sensing system detects that the front bin has been emptied, a shift structure incorporating a motor-driven gear train and associated cam/follower apparatus is automatically operated to move the rear paper stack into the front tray bin for infeed to the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Sellers, David P. Eichberger, Steven J. Lau, Mark H. Ruch, Nicholas G. Forlenza, Roger Q. Paulsel
  • Patent number: 5161938
    Abstract: An automatic supply and loading device for container blanks such as gable top containers including storage magazines for storing therein the blanks in a flat collapsed form at a location away from the main magazines from which the blanks are individually transferred to later processes in a liquid food charging machine. A robot with a pair of grasping claws is provided between the main magazines and the storage magazines so that the robot carries the blanks between the magazines and loads and unloads the blanks in and from the magazines. The main magazines can be inclined at the same angle as the angle of inclination of the robot for securing smooth loading and unloading of the blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: AB Tetra Pak
    Inventor: Paul Traegaardh
  • Patent number: 5157448
    Abstract: A reproduction machine paper loading drawer interlock system which provides protection from jams by preventing drawer opening during sheet feeding therefrom, yet provides more frequent and/or rapid drawer access for copy paper loading, particularly desirable for loading one drawer while running the machine and feeding sheets from another drawer, by independently operating each paper drawer interlock from the existing wiring and electrical signals for the paper feeder drive for that drawer, without any wiring or unique software requirements from the machine controller, or requiring any machine "cycle out" signals therefrom, or actuation of any manually actuated unlocking switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph H. Lang
  • Patent number: 5150893
    Abstract: A paper feed mechanism for a printing apparatus, comprises a case, a plurality of tables provided in the case for supporting at least two kinds of cut sheets thereon, the two kinds of cut sheets including large-sized cut sheets larger than each table and small-sized cut sheets substantially equal to each table, and a unit for moving the small-sized cut sheets on one table to another table when another table becomes empty of the small-sized cut sheets, wherein when the plurality of tables support the large-sized cut sheets, the plurality of tables function as one table, and when the plurality of tables support the small-sized cut sheets, the plurality of tables function separately independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Uno, Junji Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 5150891
    Abstract: A shingling device for use in a mail document sorting apparatus includes a first conveyor belt for receiving a vertical stack of sorted documents. A guide element is oblique to the conveyor belt for shifting the moving vertical stack into a shifted oblique stack and defines a gap between the belt and the guide element to enable passage of documents from the lower portion of the stack. A rotatable roller is disposed adjacent and downstream from the guide element and has a lower surface partially obstructing the gap. The roller rotates opposite to movement of the first conveyor belt for shingling documents passing through the gap. A second conveyor belt cooperates with the first conveyor belt to confine shingled documents advancing on the first belt, and cooperates with the roller so that the second belt has a longitudinal velocity substantially equal to the tangential velocity of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Eduard M. Svyatsky, George Paroubek, Frederick P. Hegland
  • Patent number: 5123637
    Abstract: A device for use with a copier for sequentially feeding, one at a time, paper sheets which are stacked on an elevatable tray. When a paper jam or similar error has occurred in the vicinity of the tray, the device allows the operator to restore the copier to a normal condition and resume the paper feeding operation within a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masateru Musaka
  • Patent number: 5114129
    Abstract: In order to avoid ergonomic problems such as carpel tunnel syndrome while improving productivity, an apparatus for feeding signatures to a binding line is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pocket adjacent a binding line for receiving signatures to be delivered to the binding line. It also includes first and second signature feeders for feeding signatures from a source to a signature transfer mechanism which extends to the pocket adjacent the binding line. The apparatus further contemplates at least one of the signature feeders receiving signatures directly from the source. In order to facilitate the efficient operation of the signature feeders of the invention, the signature transfer mechanism has a signature receiving end. The signature receiving end is positioned above the signature feeders and is adapted to transfer signatures to the pocket in either a shingled stream fashion or a one-at-a-time fashion. The signature transfer mechanism also has a signature transferring end positioned adjacent the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventors: Robert Chang, Thomas J. McNicholas, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5102112
    Abstract: A paper feeding device for image forming equipment effectively uses the space available in the equipment and thereby accommodates a greater number of paper sheets in successive paper storing stages without the equipment being increased in height. A first paper storing section is loaded with a stack of paper sheets in a position where a paper feeding arrangement is capable of feeding the paper sheets. A second paper storing section adjoins the first paper storing section on the side opposite to the paper feed side of the first paper storing section. A paper end sensor senses paper sheets stacked on the first paper storing section. A paper shifting mechanism shifts paper sheets stacked in the second paper storing section collectively to the first paper storing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5100122
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device, includes a lift down sensor for detecting a rotating plate of a rotatable cassette lowered down to a planar position, a lift up sensor for detecting the rotating plate lifted up to a sheet feeding position, a lateral feed position detecting sensor for detecting the rotatable cassette situated in the lateral feeding position, a longitudinal feed position detecting sensor for detecting the rotatable cassette situated in the longitudinal feeding position, and control means for controlling the drive mechanisms of the sheet feeding device. In the rotating operation of the rotatable cassette, if the lift down sensor is not turned on, the rotating plate is lowered so as to turn on the lift down sensor, thereafter the rotatable cassette is rotated to the predetermined longitudinal or lateral feeding position, and after the lateral or longitudinal feed position detecting sensor is turned on, the rotating plate is lifted up until the lift up sensor is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Noda, Atsushi Narukawa, Toshihisa Matsuo
  • Patent number: 5096181
    Abstract: Sheet stack loader and sheet stack unloader arrangements provide load-while-run or unload-while-run capabilities. In a stack loader, a pusher element laterally pushes a stack or receiver into a sheet feed receiver. In a stack unloader, the pusher element pushes a finished stack from a stacking receiver to a removal receiver. By employing smooth paper support surfaces in the receivers, with close side-by-side positioning and an unobstructed path of movement, stacks of sheets of paper can be moved laterally by the pusher mechanism, which engages a side surface of the stack to be moved. Compact drive systems utilizing toggle drives and lead screws are utilized to minimize space requirements. Continuous run capabilities can be provided by auxiliary supply or stacking trays which are operative during the stack transfer sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sukumaran K. Menon, Morton Silverberg, William F. Siegl
  • Patent number: 5096371
    Abstract: A carton feeding apparatus delivers a stack of cartons from a supply thereof in a supply pocket located such that the bottom of the stack of cartons carried therein is at a first vertical level relative to a receiving conveyor located such that the bottom of a stack of cartons received thereby is located at a second vertical level higher than the first vertical level. The apparatus comprises outfeed apparatus located for delivering cartons to the conveyor and loader apparatus movable between a first position in registry with the supply pocket and a second position in registry with the outfeed apparatus for transporting a stack of cartons therebetween. A lift apparatus is provided for lifting a stack of cartons from the supply pocket to the loader apparatus. A transfer apparatus is provided for transferring a stack of cartons from the loader apparatus to the outfeed apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Fleetwood Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Mojden, Richard P. Hoinacki
  • Patent number: 5092575
    Abstract: Portable apparatus for supporting a stack of sheets, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tray including a base wall and opposed longitudinally extending side walls, the side walls extending upwardly from the base wall and defining therewith opposed end openings through which sheets may be successively fed; at least one sheet-stack supporting wall slidably connected to one of the side walls of the tray for movement between the end openings, the supporting wall including a rectangularly-shaped portion thereof dimensioned to extend transversely of the tray between the side walls; memory structure connected to the tray for storing data relating to respective sheets fed thereto and structure for removably interfacing the apparatus with at least one external structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 5085421
    Abstract: A dual bin paper feed tray is removably insertable into the standard height tray-receiving housing opening of an image reproduction machine such as a printer or copier. The tray has adjacent front and rear paper holding bin areas each configured to hold a stack of approximately 250 cut paper sheets, the overall tray thus being adapted to hold the entire contents of a standard one ream package of cut paper sheets. In operation, the loaded tray is inserted, front end first, into the housing opening and the machine's paper feed system operates to sequentially feed paper sheets from the front tray bin into the machine. When the machine's paper sensing system detects that the front bin has been emptied, a drive motor on the rear end of the tray is energized to activate a shift structure which operates to move the rear paper stack into the front tray bin for infeed to the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Sellers
  • Patent number: 5072921
    Abstract: A mechanism for feeding sheets having a feed belt on front and rear rollers. A singulator assembly overlying and in contact with the feed belt. An auxiliary roller interposed between said front and rear rollers, with the singulation assembly in contact with the feed belt at a point between the front roller and the auxiliary roller. The singulator having a pair of spaced side frame members, central pressure roller between the spaced frame members, a roller rotatably mounted on each end of the frame members, and a belt surrounding the rollers and the central pressure roller, so that sheets on said feed belt are fed one by one between the singulator assembly and the feed belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: GBR Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 5029838
    Abstract: A paper feeder for an image duplicating machine such as a copying machine or the like is provided with a handle for carrying the image duplicating machine pivotally attached to the outer surface of the machine body to be raised, a paper holding mechanism for holding the paper for image duplicating set within the paper feeding portion, and a communicating mechanism for actuating the paper holding mechanism in cooperation with the raising operation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 5024348
    Abstract: A magazine assembly for labels having a main magazine for feeding the labels to a take-out location, a stationary support disposed rearwards thereof for retaining a replaceable supply magazine in alignment with the main magazine, the support having a lateral entry opening for a full supply magazine and an exit opening for an empty supply magazine. Connected to the entry opening is storage for a plurality of full supply magazines, from which the supply magazines may be fed onto the support through the entry opening. Adjacent the exit opening is a cam stop for holding the supply magazine in position for supplying labels to the main magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventor: Hermann Kronseder
  • Patent number: 4982943
    Abstract: A paper sheet cassette includes a rotatable guide shaft and a leaf spring secured at one end to the shaft. A pressure plate secured to the shaft receives a stack of paper sheets and is resiliently urged against a feed roll by the spring. The spring and pressure plate are settable to different angular positions to adjust the pressure of the stack against the feed roll and to permit the stack to be placed on the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Udo Weiss
  • Patent number: 4981292
    Abstract: A swing-up loader for a signature machine serves as an extension for the pile feed mechanism. The loader has its own conveyor belts and drive. When placed in its operating position, the loader adjoins the regular infeed of the signature feeder at a junction. A microswitch senses the height of the signature pile at the junction. When the pile height falls due to removal of signatures at the stockplate, the microswitch calls for movement of the loader's drive belts. This movement transfers signatures on the loader across the junction to the regular infeed of the signature feeder. The loader maintains a full infeed to assure a uniform pressure at the stockplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: McCain Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: James F. Cosgrove
  • Patent number: 4976421
    Abstract: A paper feed control device for controlling a paper feed level, or height, to a predetermined level by moving up and down a tray which is loaded with a stack of papers by a motor. A proportional relation between the number of paper fed as counted by a paper counter and the number of encoder pulses which is associated with an amount of movement of the tray is calculated to determine how many pulse will appear before a near-paper-end condition is reached. Based on a result of the decision, the paper feed is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kanaya
  • Patent number: 4971310
    Abstract: A paper sheet takeout apparatus has an eccentric roller rotatably supported and placed against one side of a stack of paper sheets. The roller feeds the paper sheets one-by-one. The stacked paper sheets are urged toward the eccentric roller by a backup member. The back up member is urged toward the stacked paper sheets by a base member. There is provided an absorbing member between the backup member and the base member. During the takeout operation, the backup member vibrates due to the eccentric rotation of the eccentric roller. With the absorbing member, such as a coil spring between the backup member and the base member, vibrations are absorbed so as to continuously take sheets out one-by-one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Isamu Motegi, Hisayuki Hiroki, Toshitaka Sakoguchi, Yoshiaki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 4971311
    Abstract: A feeder for use in a sheet-feed printing machine, in which, while a pile board loaded with a paper sheet pile on a pallet is moved upward, paper sheets are fed to the printing unit through a side register lay, comprising a sensor movable along a threaded shaft according to the rotation of the threaded shaft to detect a side edge of the paper sheet pile, which is moved an amount equal to the distance in the cross or lateral direction between a position at which the paper sheet pile is to be positioned when a left-pulling side register lay is used and a position at which the paper sheet pile is to be positioned when a right-pulling side register lay is used, and further comprising a non-interrupting paper replenishing device to insert another paper sheet pile under the paper sheet pile, or detecting means to detect the remaining amount of paper sheets and the top surface of the paper sheet pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Komori Printing Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Tsukimoto
  • Patent number: 4951933
    Abstract: A separating apparatus, in which the sheet material is conveyed in stacks via a stack transporting system to the stack holder, comprises first apparatus for effecting selective mechanical manipulation of the stack going through the separation process in case sensors, which check the separation sequence, detect a deviation from the proper separation process. Further sensors may be provided in addition for testing the stack before and during separation as to its shape and/or state of conservation. Taking this information into account, an irregularity occurring during separation can then be combatted by triggering that measure which appears best suitable for automatically eliminating the disturbance of the separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fur Automation and Organisation mbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Mitzel, Karl-Heinz Leuthold, Josef Geier
  • Patent number: 4925362
    Abstract: A feeding mechanism for stacking and moving sheets of paper and the like in which sheets are moved to a stacking area where they are held stationary and accumulate in a stack. The stack is released and moved away from the stacking area after a predetermined number of sheets have accumulated in said stack. The moving mechanism includes upper and lower transport belts transversely offset from each other which are in different vertically adjacent planes to cause the belts to grasp and move the sheets. The stacking area is located between a sheet recording mechanism to record the number of sheets passing thereby and a stop mechanism to prevent forward movement of the stack. The sheet recording mechanism comprises a deflecting unit and the stop mechanism comprises a rotatable stop wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: GBR Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Roman M. Golicz
  • Patent number: 4921388
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in a drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical stack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4911420
    Abstract: An arrangement is presented which permits a record chart bundle to be deflected into a recording position at a relatively short distance from an input slot of a respective recording device at an angle of approximately 90.degree.. For this purpose, a resilient, continuous transporting belt or a transporting belt pair driven by a motor is provided, deflecting rollers being assigned on the one hand and contact pressure rollers which are supported in a springing manner and engage in a working connection with a belt roller being assigned on the other hand to the transporting belt or transporting belt pair in such a way that a transfer gap between the belt rollers or between the transporting belts engaging around the belt rollers respectively, and the contact pressure rollers is located in the recording plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Knauer, Norbert Helmschrott
  • Patent number: 4907941
    Abstract: For supplying a sufficient quantity of prefabricated blanks (21) to packaging machines (20), blank stacks (22) are brought up to the packaging machine (20) on a stack pallet (25). By the use of at least one stack conveyor (27), the blank stacks (22) are taken off from the stack pallet (25) in succession and conveyed to a blank magazine (23) of the packaging machine (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Kurt Liedtke
  • Patent number: 4900005
    Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus for a copying machine comprises a cassette for holding a stack of sheets to be fed. The cassette is in the form of an open-topped housing containing a base plate for supporting the stack of sheets. A handle is provided which is coupled to a mechanism for raising, preferably tilting, at least part of the base plate right out of the cassette housing to facilitate loading sheets within the tight tolerances of the cassette housing. A rear registration guide and a pair of relatively small side guides are provided which do not impede stack loading but allow the stack to be positioned sufficiently accurately that when the handle--and hence the base plate--is lowered the stack is able to enter the cassette housing without further adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Blyth, Jeffrey J. Masters, Ian Hirst, Leonard V. Gates
  • Patent number: 4854815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for feeding a stack delivery unit of a packaging machine, e.g. a cartoning machine, with cardboard carton cut pieces or the like stored in stacks, whereby the cartons are first loaded onto a first supply stack and are further transferred to a second supply stack with the assistance of a stack clamp of a drive chassis, whereby the partial stacks are each loaded in succession into the supply stacks and the stack delivery unit of the packaging machine. The transport inside the supply stack results with the assistance of contrarotating driven conveyors in which the partial stacks are held a certain distance from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Benz & Hilgers GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Augst
  • Patent number: 4852869
    Abstract: A feed apparatus for feeding paper to a copy machine is disclosed. Paper on a paper table is vertically moved by a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is made up of a coupling mechanism, a transmitting mechanism, and a mounting mechanism. This mechanism transmits a drive force from a motor and a motor drive to the paper table, to vertically move the table. The table has an elastic member attached thereto. The elastic member has a predetermined elastic force to move the table upwardly. The table is lifted by cooperation of the lift mechanism and the elastic member. A controller applies a command to the motor to drive a transport mechanism. The driven transport mechanism picks up paper sheet by sheet and feeds it to the copy machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junji Watanabe, Ken Iseda, Takehito Fukunaga, Akihito Tokutsu
  • Patent number: 4840368
    Abstract: A bill containing box apparatus used in a bill receiving and dispensing machine having a dispensation bill containing box mounted on the front of the machine body in an inclined condition for improving the handling of bills contained within the machine body. The dispensation bill containing box detachably mounted on the frame members in an inclined condition with the engaging members of the box snapped into the upper and lower notches formed in the frame members. The dispensation bill containing box can be tilted forward with the front door opened and the engaging members of the box disengaged from the upper notches for loading bills into the box or taking them out from the box. The dispensation bill containing box can be also separated from the frame members with the engaging members of the box disengaged from both the upper and lower notches of the frame members. This makes it possible to carry the box to any place for loading or removal of the bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Laurel Bank Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 4830354
    Abstract: A top-sheet feeding apparatus having an automatically elevating stack support tray (100) to keep the top sheet of the stack (5) in operative contact with sheet feed mechanism (10). An upwardly projecting member (2) is present on the tray. The stack of sheets is provided in a cartridge (3) which simplifies the change over of throughput material and reduces the risk of damage and contamination both during handling and storage. The cartridge (3) comprises a generally enclosed rectangular container (4) holding the stack of sheets (5). The container has three openings as follows: (i) in its top face (6b) a cut out portion (9) exposing a portion of the top sheet to permit engagement by the sheet feed mechanism (10), (ii) in a side face (6c) a slot (11) through which sheets can be fed out from the top of the stack, and (iii) in bottom face (6a) an aperture (7) slightly larger than the projecting member (2). The cartridge (3) also comprises a vertically movable plate (8) for supporting the stack (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Penson
  • Patent number: 4801135
    Abstract: An apparatus in which the loading and unloading of sheets on a tray used in a printing machine is facilitated. The uppermost sheet of the stack of sheets on the tray is continuously maintained at a preselected level as additional sheets are loaded on the tray or removed therefrom. This optimizes the operator access level and minimizes the delay time associated with the tray moving from the sheet feeding position to the operator access level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond A. Povio
  • Patent number: 4799605
    Abstract: A magazine assembly for labels having a main magazine for feeding the labels to a take-out location, a stationary support disposed rearwards thereof for retaining a replaceable supply magazine in alignment with the main magazine, the support having a lateral entry opening for a full supply magazine and an exit opening for an empty supply magazine. Connected to the entry opening is storage for a plurality of full supply magazines, from which the supply magazines may be pushed into the support through the entry opening. Adjacent the exit opening is a lateral stop for holding the supply magazine in position for supplying labels to the main magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Inventor: Hermann Kronseder
  • Patent number: 4798374
    Abstract: A paper feeding device for feeding paper to a printer wherein the paper is advanced by a paper feed motor and a print head prints on the paper while the paper is supported by a platen. The feeding device includes a paper stacker for storing a stack of paper sheets, a feed roller which is disposed for contact with a top sheet of the paper stack for feeding the top sheet when the roller is rotated, a first paper path for directing the top sheet from the paper stacker to the printer, a second paper path for directing another sheet of paper to the printer without passing the feed roller, a transmission mechanism disposed between the feed roller and the paper feed motor for transmitting a rotary motion of the paper feed motor to the feed roller, and a cut-off mechanism disposed in the transmission mechanism which is manually operated to a cut-off position in which the feed roller is operatively disconnected from the paper feed motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritugu Ito
  • Patent number: 4793606
    Abstract: A paper feeding device for a printer, which is constituted by a paper feeding tray and a tray receiver. The paper feeding tray has a rotatable hopper plate supported at the bottom thereof, a hopper shaft disposed at the lower surface of the front end of the hopper plate, two moving levers respectively connected to two ends of the hopper shaft, and movably supported by two sides of the paper feeding tray, guide grooves formed in the two sides in the tray fitting direction, two movable members supported by the two guide grooves, and have outwardly extending securing portions, and a spring disposed between the movable levers and the movable members, and for pushing up the hopper plate through the hopper shaft with respect to the movable lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Seikosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Yasuoka, Hidetoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 4790525
    Abstract: A separating apparatus for sheet material in which the sheet material is conveyed in stacks via a stack transporting system to a stack holder including a stack manipulator for effecting selective mechanical manipulation of the stack going through the separation process in the event that a deviation from the proper separation process is detected. In addition, a stack tester may be provided for testing the geometric and physical condition of the stack of sheet material before and during separation. An irregularity occurring during separation can be combatted by instituting a stack manipulation procedure which appears best suitable for automatically eliminating the disturbance of the separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fur Automation and Organisation mbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Mitzel, Karl-Heinz Leuthold, Josef Geier
  • Patent number: 4787617
    Abstract: A bill pressing-down apparatus used for the bill receiving and dispensing machine for pressing down the accumulated bills from the top thereof to afford the bill feeding-out roller sufficient frictional force required for smoothly feeding out the bills. According to the bill pressing-down apparatus of the present invention, since the bil pressing-down plate is suspended at a position offset from the center of gravity of the bill pressing-down plate so that it takes an inclined attitude parallel to the bill accumulating plate and the accumulated bills due to its weight balance, the bill pressing-down plate is able to well contact the bill pressing-down plate with the top surface of the accumulated bills and to uniformly distribute the bill pressing-down force over the entire top surface of the accumulated bills. The bill pressing-down apparatus provision is itself compact and further enables realization of a compact bill delivering and dispensing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Laurel Bank Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 4781509
    Abstract: A stack loader (30), for picking up a stack (10) of thin metal sheets, moving the stack to a feed hopper (100) and lowering the stack into the feed hopper, is provided, the stack loader (30) having a fork support frame (31) and a stack retainer (32) telescopically received in the fork support frame, the stack retainer (32) being shaped to fit over the stack while leaving the back of the stack mostly exposed, the fork support frame (31) having lifting forks (41) mounted thereon which can fit under the stack (10) and lift it up into the stack retainer (32) so that sagging bottom sheets in the stack will not spill out of the stack loader (30) during movement of the stack (10) to the feed hopper (100). The forks (41) can be locked under the stack (10) and an automatic safety (92, 93) is provided to prevent unlocking of the forks during movement of the stack loader to the feed hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Elferd L. Evans
  • Patent number: 4772007
    Abstract: This specification discloses a cut sheet loading device in a cut sheet holding and containing device used in a recording apparatus such as a printer or a copying apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Kashimura
  • Patent number: 4765606
    Abstract: In the context of a sheet feeder comprising a stack carrying table able to be moved by a lifting device and having front and side abutments, precise positioning of the stack is facilitated inasfar as the stack carrying table is composed of a supporting table adapted to be connected with a lifting member of the lifting device and of a loading stage supported on the carrying table for free movement in its own plane in substantially all directions within the plane. The sheet feeder furthermore has a clamping device which is able to detachably clamp the stage to the supporting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Georg Spiess GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Marass
  • Patent number: 4763891
    Abstract: A sheet feed device for use with a sheet feed tray of the type having a movable bottom plate and a tray cover holds the bottom plate in a raised, sheet feed position whenever the tray cover is closed, and in a lowered, sheet supply position whenever it is open. A reversible motor is drivably connected by gears or a sprocket and chain device to an arm which is adapted to raise and lower the bottom plate. The motor is controlled responsive to an output of a tray cover position sensor which senses an open position and a closed position of the tray cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Kodama
  • Patent number: 4717137
    Abstract: A separating apparatus, to which the sheet material is transported in stacks via a stack transporting system, comprises a movable retaining means which reduces the separating gap before the stack is fed and is restored to its original width immediately before separation begins. This allows for the prevention of sheets being wedged in the separating gap, which would otherwise lead to a disturbance of the separation process. The design of a stationary retaining element having an integrated second, movable element allows for the formation of a stopping surface which protrudes beyond the stopping surface of the stationary part and is hit by the leading edges of the sheets in the stack. A toothed design of the new stopping surface allows for the leading edge of the stack of sheet material to be influenced selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fur Automation und Organisation GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Leuthold
  • Patent number: 4708568
    Abstract: A supply device for supplying flattened boxes (1) to a packaging machine, equipped for the re-supply of the boxes (1), comprising apparatus for feeding a line (4) of boxes along a magazine (2) including a front carriage (13) and a rear carriage (14) feed chains (6, 8), flat vertical slides (19, 27) for connecting the carriages (13, 14) to the feed chains (8), a double action pneumatic jack (42) for sliding the carriages (13, 14) towards or away from one another, a plate (31) mounted on the carriage (13) moveable transversely between a position facing the line (4) and a retracted position, a plate (41) on the carriage (14) facing and normally spaced from the plate (31) to form a space containing additional boxes (1). To supply the additional line (46) of boxes, the plate (41) is first moved to compact the additional line (46) and thereafter plate (31) is retracted to provide a single line of boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Azionaria Construzioni Macchine Automatiche-A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Odorici
  • Patent number: 4700941
    Abstract: A corrugated sheet stacking and feeding apparatus is provided in which stacks of sheets are fed to the unstacking apparatus and are raised to an elevated position in which blocks are progressively removed from the top of the stack and pushed and fed onto an inverting carriage that receives the blocks and pivots the blocks vertically upward and then to an inverted position over a feed conveyor. While the block of sheets are raised to a vertical orientation, alignment elements move inward along the lateral sides to align the lateral edges of the sheets with respect to each other and to laterally shift the block to align the block with a central feed axis. The block then is lowered onto the feed conveyor and moved forward through a shingling gate to feed the sheets progressively in a shingled fashion to a discharge end of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Thermoguard Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: David Shill
  • Patent number: 4696615
    Abstract: In a supply magazine of a copying machine closed copy paper packages are arranged in stacked relation. The copy paper has been preconditioned by the manufacturer and provided with a packing that protects the preconditioning.Whenever the copy paper supply for the copying machine has to be refilled, one copy paper package is removed from the supply magazine and advanced to an unpacking device and opened.The unpacked copy paper stack is withdrawn from the opened packing by a withdrawing device and moved to a magazine.The magazine is associated with a sheet separating device which removes individual sheets and advances them to the copying station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Helmut Ettischer, Arno Ebner, Rolf Munz, Raimund Pollak