Rotating Packer Patents (Class 271/178)
  • Patent number: 11940252
    Abstract: A projectile for firearms comprises a body defining a generally cylindrical base portion opposite an ogive. The body further defines a longitudinal axis. A plurality of pairs of adjacent flutes are defined in the ogive. Each flute has a radius of curvature which decreases along the longitudinal axis from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the flute. The adjacent flutes of each pair define and are substantially symmetrical about a central ridge. Each ridge is coplanar with the longitudinal axis and has a lesser depth than a bottom surface of each flute relative to a curved outer surface of the ogive. Each ridge has a radius of curvature which decreases along the longitudinal axis from an origin to a terminus of the ridge. The decreasing radius of curvature of the flutes prevents the projectile from over penetrating human-sized soft tissue targets without sacrificing energy transfer to such targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: QUANTUM AMMUNITION, LLC
    Inventor: Juan Carlos Marin Riquelme
  • Patent number: 11055679
    Abstract: A method of processing a mixed bunch of banknotes and checks in a recycling self-service terminal is described. The method comprises: receiving a bunch of documents; recognizing each document from the received bunch; for each banknote recognized from the received bunch, validating the authenticity of that banknote; for each check recognized from the received bunch, extracting financial information from that check; and notifying a customer of the total value of the deposited bunch. A document validator, and a self-service terminal including the document validator, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Inglis, Craig Scott Nicol, Ken Peters
  • Patent number: 10534304
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a transport member that transports a medium; a storage that is disposed below the transport member in a gravitational direction, and that stores the medium which is delivered by the transport member and falls into the storage; a supporter that is provided in the storage, and that has an upper end disposed below the transport member in a gravitational direction, and that allows the medium to be stored with a front end of the medium in a discharge direction matching a lower end of the medium in a gravitational direction; and a guidance member that is disposed in the supporter with the medium interposed between the guidance member and the supporter, and that guides the medium which falls to the supporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Terakado, Shin Honda, Hidekazu Amamoto, Hiroki Ando, Takashi Akaike, Yuichi Sono, Satoru Ishii, Kazunori Shindo
  • Patent number: 10287126
    Abstract: A recycle box includes a box door and a box bottom housing. A recycle inlet is provided at a top of the box bottom housing. A guide elastic strip, a banknote guiding plate, an impeller and a banknote stacking plate are fixed inside the box bottom housing. The guide elastic strip and the banknote guiding plate are vertically and oppositely arranged, there is a gap between the guide elastic strip and the banknote guiding plate and the gap is a recycle passage. The banknote guiding plate is provided with a first stopper for placing the recycled media and an opening for flexible blades to pass through, and the recycled media are placed on the first stopper after passing through the recycle passage. The flexible blade conveys the recycled media onto the banknote stacking plate. The impeller has a small diameter and the recycle box has a reduced volume accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Tan, Heng Liu, Hongjun Wu, Zhuang Jiang
  • Patent number: 10275974
    Abstract: The paper sheet handling apparatus includes a base module and an extension module connected to the base module. The base module includes a feeding unit, a first transport unit, a recognition unit that recognizes the paper sheet, first-type stacking units arranged along a first direction for stacking a paper sheet and having an opening to remove the stacked paper sheet, and a control unit that controls transport of the paper sheet based on a recognition result obtained in the recognition unit. The extension module includes a second transport unit that transports inside the extension module a paper sheet discharged from the base module by the first transport unit, and second-type stacking units arranged along a second direction different from the first direction and having an opening to remove the stacked paper sheet. The control unit controls the first-type stacking unit and the second-type stacking unit to sort and stack the paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Koga, Akira Hibino, Osamu Uehara
  • Patent number: 10144038
    Abstract: Sorting systems and methods for large quantities of items in industrial processes are described. The systems, devices and methods are for receiving, sorting and removing items dynamically. A first group of items, such as letters or other mail pieces, are injected by a belt into a pocket to a form a first stack, and a divider is extended near the first stack. The divider allows for a second group of items to either be injected to form a second stack behind the divider, or to be diverted and injected into another pocket. The first stack can be removed while the second group is being injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Christopher M. Stratton, Gregory J. Smith, Thomas C. Potter
  • Patent number: 10112216
    Abstract: Sorting systems and methods for large quantities of items in industrial processes are described. The systems, devices and methods are for receiving, sorting and removing items dynamically. A first group of items, such as letters or other mail pieces, are injected by a belt into a pocket to a form a first stack, and a progressive displacement divider with amplified output for a given input is extended near the first stack. The divider allows for a second group of items to either be injected to form a second stack behind the divider, or to be diverted and injected into another pocket. The first stack can be removed while the second group is being injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: United States Postal Services
    Inventors: Christopher M. Stratton, Gregory J. Smith, Thomas C. Potter
  • Patent number: 9611118
    Abstract: A medium ejection apparatus is provided which may be part of an image forming apparatus. The medium ejection apparatus may include an ejection roller configured to eject a recording medium and a pinch roller disposed opposite to the ejection roller. The pinch roller is configured to move toward and away from the ejection roller and to press a recording medium toward the ejection roller. Also, the medium ejection apparatus may include an elastic member configured to press the pinch roller toward the ejection roller and a lever disposed downstream of the pinch roller in a recording medium transport direction. The lever is configured to be moved between a first position and a second position. When the lever is in the second position, the lever contacts the pinch roller, which causes a force to be applied against the elastic member, and the pinch roller is spaced away from the ejection roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 9517911
    Abstract: A banknote receiving device includes a supporting frame; a pair of roller wheels, located at an inlet of the banknote receiving device and configured to bring in banknotes by clamping; a blade wheel, mounted on the supporting frame via a rotating shaft, the blade wheel being joined with the pair of roller wheels and configured to convey the banknotes delivered from the pair of roller wheels in a way of carrying the banknotes and rotating at a high speed; and a support plate, located below the blade wheel, configured to carry the banknotes delivered from the blade wheel. The banknote receiving device further includes a blade wheel floating control device configured to control an upward and downward floating of the blade wheel and to further control the support plate to move downward according to an upward floating degree of the blade wheel to increase the banknote receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhigao Xia
  • Patent number: 9199818
    Abstract: A paddle wheel compiler includes a paddle wheel that accepts sheets from the front of the paddle wheel to form a set, unlike a disk stacker which accepts sheets from the top or back of the disk and flips the sheet. The paddle wheel compiler is unique in that it maintains control of all sheets in a set, except for the top sheet during tamping. The top sheet is registered to the set with side tampers, followed by a scuffing action to register the sheet against a registration wall in the process direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Derek A Bryl, Douglas K Herrmann, Jason M LeFevre
  • Patent number: 9199817
    Abstract: A medium discharging apparatus includes a pair of discharging rollers, a stacker, and a pressing member. The pair of discharging rollers are configured to rotate to discharge a sheet of medium held therebetween. The discharged sheet of medium and are stacked onto the stacker. The pressing member is disposed downstream of the discharging rollers with respect to a path into which the medium is discharged by the discharging rollers. The pressing member is configured to traverse the path and to swing about a shaft due to a gravity force thereof. When the sheet of medium is discharged by the discharging rollers, the pressing member interferes with the sheet of medium and exerts the gravity force on the sheet of medium downward toward the stacker while swinging about the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Osaki
  • Patent number: 9120634
    Abstract: A media-guiding system includes a media-guiding roller having a roller axis and an exterior surface having one or more grooves formed around the exterior surface. A media travels along a transport path past the media-guiding roller with a first side of the media facing the exterior surface of the web-guiding roller. An air source provides an air flow into one or more of the grooves, the air flow being directed between the first side of the media and the exterior surface of the media-guiding roller thereby producing a Bernoulli force to draw the media toward the exterior surface of the media-guiding roller and providing an increased traction between the media and the media-guiding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher M. Muir, David Cornell
  • Patent number: 9096404
    Abstract: A device for filling a transport container with sheet-shaped notes of value includes a feeding unit and a removal unit. Notes of value are fed via a vane wheel for forming a stack. The removal unit has an elastic guiding element which limits the movement of the note of value fed by the vane of the vane wheel and falling down vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Mirko Duchstein
  • Patent number: 9073723
    Abstract: A stacker device (1) for stacking flats (100) on edge, which device includes a stacking support (2) that extends along a certain stacking axis (D2) for storing flats (100) on edge and in a stack, which flats are inserted successively onto said stacking support (2), a stacking actuator (4) for guiding each flat (100) to be stacked along an insertion axis (D1) transverse to the stacking axis (D2), and for inserting it at the back of said stack of flats (100), said stacking support (2) being mounted to move relative to the stacking actuator (4) along the stacking axis (D2), and said stacker device (1) including impulse means (9) synchronized with the stacking actuator (4) so as to move the stacking support (2) in translation by applying an impulse along the stacking axis (D2) when a flat (100) is inserted at the back of said stack of flats (100). A storage device and a postal sorting machine including such a stacker device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SOLYSTIC
    Inventors: Laurent Pellegrin, Christian Duclot, Wilfrid Beaugrand
  • Patent number: 8985576
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that allow for concurrent leading edge registration and side edge registration of print media sheet(s). Specifically, segmented scuffer disk(s) are mounted to an axle above a tray. The disk(s) can each comprise multiple segments and, as the axle rotates, these segments can engage a print media sheet in the tray (e.g., the top print media sheet on a stack in the tray) and can continuously force that print media sheet in a first direction against a leading edge registration guide. The segments can also be independently flexible in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. This independent flexibility allows tamper(s) to perform a tamping process in the second direction at the same time as the print media sheet is forced in the first direction, thereby avoiding any slippage of the print media sheet away from the leading edge registration guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: XEROX Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M. LeFevre, Douglas K. Herrmann, Derek A. Bryl
  • Publication number: 20140327206
    Abstract: An accumulation device for paper-like sheets comprises a conveying part, a clamping part, a guiding part and an accumulating part, which are connected serially. The conveying part is used for conveying the paper-like sheet to the clamping part. The clamping part comprises a drive shaft and multiple banknote-stacking wheels fixed to the drive shaft, and every banknote-stacking wheel is provided with multiple wheel blades having the same curvature. The paper-like sheet can be clamped between any two adjacent wheel blades and rotatably conveyed to the guiding part. The guiding part receives the paper-like sheet conveyed by the clamping part and guides the paper-like sheet to the accumulating part. The accumulating part is used for accumulating the paper-like sheet conveyed by the guide part. The paper-like sheets are reliably collected among the wheel blades and prevented from scattering, and thus the paper-like sheets can be uniformly arranged in order and stacked on the accumulating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: GRG Banking Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Demei Kong, Pinde Tao
  • Patent number: 8366107
    Abstract: A media presenter is described. The media presenter comprises: a chassis including a central track; a nose coupled to the chassis at a nose end of the chassis; and a carriage. The nose includes a presenting end distal from the chassis, and a nose track arranged to couple to the central track to provide a presenting track extending from the chassis to the presenting end. The carriage is mounted on the presenting track for movement therealong, and comprises a carriage body and a carriage plate movable between an open position at which media items can be placed on the carriage plate, and a closed position for clamping media items between the carriage plate and the carriage body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Deas, Gordon Burke, Michael Rennie, Scott L. Colston
  • Patent number: 8360429
    Abstract: A media transport module is described. The media transport module comprises: an upward transport, a divert transport, and a stacking transport. The upward transport extends from a pick coupling area to a diversion area and is operable to route individual media items from the pick coupling area to the diversion area. The divert transport extends from the diversion area to a diverter port; and the stacking transport extends from the diversion area to a stacking port. A diverter is located at the diversion area and is operable to route media items to either (i) the divert transport, or (ii) the stacking transport, in response to a signal received from a media thickness sensor. A drive gear is provided for receiving rotational motion from an external drive. An electrical connector is also provided for receiving electrical power from an external supply and using the received electrical power to energize the diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Duncan Keith, Gordon Burke
  • Patent number: 7871069
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet roller capable of achieving compactness and thinness, and improves space usability and design freedom. The sheet roller includes a roller body coupled with the rotation shaft, a plurality of coupling members coupled with a side surface of the roller body in order to surround a part of an outer peripheral surface of the roller body, and disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body in such a manner as to be spaced apart from one another, and an elastic sheet interposed between the roller body and each of the plurality of coupling members. The roller body is formed to have a predetermined thickness thereof while maintaining a predetermined shape and strength thereof, and thus, improving space usability and the design freedom of an automatic transaction machine where the sheet roller is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nautilus Hyosung Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Sik Lee, Won Joon Lee, Joon Hyuk Han
  • Patent number: 7789389
    Abstract: A media dispenser has a delivery module for feeding media, a stacking module for stacking the media, which are fed through the delivery module, on a stacking plate, and a delivery clamp module for clamping the media stacked on the stacking module and delivering the clamped media to the customer, and for feeding the media, which the customer did not take out, to the stacking plate. A path through which the media clamped by the delivery clamp module are fed to a reject box is opened by moving the stacking plate of the stacking module. The method comprises the steps of returning the media onto the stacking plate by a clamp assembly, opening a reject slot by allowing a driving plate to be moved by a driving source and the stacking plate to be moved together with the driving plate, and dropping the media as the clamp assembly unclamps the media through the opened reject slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG N-Sys Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung-Ho Ko
  • Patent number: 7621526
    Abstract: The invention relates to an individual-sheet stacking apparatus including a frame, a support which is displaceably guided at the frame and which is fitted with a rest surface for the individual sheet stack and having a pressurizing spindle to alternatingly shift and release the support. The pressurizing spindle consists of a pressurizing shaft rotatably supported at the frame, two pressurizing spindle lateral elements affixed to the pressurizing shaft, and at least two glide shafts configured in a fixed or rotatable manner at the pressurizing spindle lateral elements, the glide shafts being fitted with glide rollers. A drive means drives the pressurizing spindle into rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: BEB Industrie-Elektronik AG
    Inventors: Hans Blaser, Armin Zobeli
  • Patent number: 7513498
    Abstract: A method of processing sheet media is provided. The method may include moving a sheet medium upward by contact of a face of the sheet medium with a roller. The method also may include carrying a trailing edge of the sheet medium upward and then over the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Luis Elenes, Jeffrey G. Bingham
  • Patent number: 7396011
    Abstract: A modular bin or pocket has an integrated transport assembly and mail piece diverter assembly and is usable in a bin stacker section in mail handling and sorting systems. The modular bin is individually removable, interchangeable and replaceable from the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system to allow for repair or maintenance of malfunctioning bins leading to reduced down time of the mail processing system. The modular bin further enables vertical and/or horizontal progressive modularity, i.e., vertical and/or horizontal expansion, of the bin stacker sections of the mail processing system which allows for cost-effective expansion of mail handling systems. Further, there is disclosed a tray management system and a tier diverter system that are usable in mail handling systems that use the modular bin with double sided bin stacker sections or single sided bin stacker sections with or without a turnaround section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Bowe Bell + Howell Company
    Inventors: Ed Svyatsky, Walter S. Conard, Tomasz Bednarek, John Overman, Tony Estis, Mike Stollenwerck, Manny Panopoulos, Gary vanErmen, Mike Swift, Richard Szewczyk
  • Publication number: 20080128977
    Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet re-circulating accumulator (10) comprising: an inlet feed path (20) to an accumulation location (30); an outlet feed path (40); a sheet circulation path (60) defined by stationary sheet guide means (62, 64, 66, 68); and sheet driving means (32, 70, 72, 74, 76) associated with the sheet circulation path (60) for selectively advancing a partial accumulation (P) of one or more sheets (S) at the accumulation location (30) around the sheet circulation path (60), so that the partial accumulation (P) is guided by the stationary sheet guide means (62, 64, 66, 68) at the leading edge of the partial accumulation (P) while being driven, and back to the accumulation location (30) to accumulate the next sheet (S) fed from the inlet feed path (20) with the partial accumulation (P), and delivering an accumulation (A) of sheets (S) along said outlet feed path (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Farmer
  • Patent number: 7344134
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking a plurality of flat articles on edge is provided that receives articles in an article receiver that includes a stop wall to receive the front edge of each article and stop horizontal motion of the article and a rotatable segmented roller for receiving the bottom edge of each article. The segmented roller is rotatable about a central axis of the cylinder and includes a planar surface, the planar surface receiving the bottom edge of each flat article when the planar surface is in a horizontal position. The segmented roller is rotatable from a stopped position wherein the planar surface is in the horizontal position to form a gap to receive the bottom edge of one article at a time to a rotating configuration wherein the cylindrical outer surface of the segmented roller drives the one article against a stacking conveyor bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Mark W. Ricker, Kurt D. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20080036136
    Abstract: At least two sheet conveyors are provided in such a way that several of these conveyors can rotate around the common axis, essentially independent of one another, and thus one of these sheet conveyors is ready to accept or detect the next sheet, if another of these sheet conveyors is still occupied with the transport or the placement of a preceding sheet and that a sensor is coupled mechanically with several of these sheet conveyors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Dirk Dobrindt
  • Publication number: 20080029951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for depositing sheets for a printing machine, said device comprising at least one rotating drivable sheet transport element (6), which is designed to receive or grasp a leading edge of a sheet and deposit said sheet on a stack after said sheet has traveled a path of rotation, and comprising at least one drag element (10) for pulling a sheet that has been deposited on the stack toward a mechanical stop. With the present invention, the drag element is coupled with the rotation of the sheet transport element and is arranged in such a manner that said drag element can assume an inoperative position within the region covered by the rotating sheet transport element, and that said drag element, in order to perform its dragging function, can be moved at least partially out of the region covered by the rotating sheet transport element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
    Inventors: Dirk Dobrindt, Rolf Gritzuhn
  • Publication number: 20070296991
    Abstract: A stacker, including a sheet stacking section which receives sheets and stacks the sheets, a stopping member which stops the top edge of the sheet and aligns the sheet, plural paddle-wheels which press against the sheet and convey the sheet to the stopping member, and a control section which controls the paddle-wheels to shift perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, to be arranged on both side edges of the sheets, and to press against the both side edges of the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Satoru Shimizu, Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Tomohiko Kiryu
  • Publication number: 20070278736
    Abstract: The invention provides a bill processor that substantially horizontally delivers bills one by one to an upper space of a stacking unit from a delivery unit, downward strikes and drops the trailing edge of a delivered bill in its delivery direction by impellers, and stacks the bills in the stacking unit. The bill handling machine has a regulating member that engages the leading edge of the bill in its delivery direction, which is delivered to the upper space of the stacking unit from the delivery unit. The regulating member can be changed in position in the delivery direction according to the length of a bill in the delivery direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: LAUREL PRECISION MACHINES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Onodera, Toru Inage, Tomohisa Oe
  • Patent number: 7198262
    Abstract: In the case of an envelope-turning station with a turning cylinder which is oriented parallel to the mail-conveying direction and is equipped with openable and closable jaws on its circumference, it is possible, following charging of the turning-cylinder jaws with horizontally flat items of mail and rotation of the turning cylinder through 90° and/or 270°, for a mail removal arrangement to remove items of mail in the mail-conveying direction, in a state in which they are standing on one of their longitudinal edges, and to feed them to further processing or handling stations of a mail-processing installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hartl, Eddy Edel
  • Patent number: 6877739
    Abstract: An on-edge stacking machine having a mailpiece input device to release mailpieces, one at a time, to a stacking deck for stacking. A speed monitoring device and a sensing device are used to monitor the moving speed and the arrival time of a mailpiece from the input device to a reference point of the stacking machine. Based on the moving speed and the arrival time, a displacement distance of the arriving mailpiece is computed. A segmented roller is then used to move the arriving mailpiece into the bottom of the stack in a two-part motion cycle, based on the displacement of the arriving mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Leitz, Donald A. Ross, Paul Snopkowski, John W. Sussmeier
  • Patent number: 6805346
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a apparatus for stacking mailpieces comprising elongated intermittently rotating S-elements, one of the rotating S-elements has an S-shaped cross section, the other of the rotating S-elements has a mirror image of the S-shape cross section. In the preferred embodiment, a new mailpiece to be stacked enters the stacker below the top curve of the rotating S-shaped elements, and above the shelf-like center portion of the S-shaped elements. The imaged portion of the mailpiece (i.e. the top side) does not contact the stack or the S-shaped elements while being moved into the stacker. The likelihood of smearing is greatly reduced. Once the new mailpiece is moved into the area below the stack and between the two rotating S-shaped elements, the two elements are rotated. This action lifts the new mailpiece upward directly into contact with the bottom of the stack, thus lifting the entire stack by the thickness of the new mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Denis J. Stemmle
  • Patent number: 6666448
    Abstract: When a large number of paper sheets and the like, tending to be folded or curled, are introduced into an introducing space, folded portions of the paper sheets and the like or edges of the curled paper sheets and the like project into an introducing port, so that the paper sheets and the like interfere with each other, thereby causing troubles such as the folding of the edge portions of the paper sheets and the like and the residence of the paper sheets and the like. Therefore, a gripping device is provided in the vicinity of a paper sheets and the like introducing port of a paper sheets and the like introducing mechanism, and this gripping device includes a plurality of brush portions which grip the paper sheets and the like to be introduced into a receiving cassette, and feeds the paper sheets and the like to a paper sheets and the like introducing portion, and the brush portions grip the paper sheets and the like in an upstanding posture in the paper sheets and the like introducing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Goro Sato, Hisahiro Koshizuka, Shinji Shibata, Riichi Kato
  • Patent number: 6634639
    Abstract: As a rotary member 21 provided on the back surface side of a guide 5 is rotated, its blades get out to the front surface side through a window 8 formed in the guide 5. With this rotation, the height level of the blades getting out from the window 8 is changed. With the rotation of the rotary member 21, postal matter being led reaches a side plate 3. A bottom plate 2 is slanted such that its side, on which the guide 5 is provided, is higher in level than the opposite side 53. Owing to this slant, a support plate 4 receives gravitational force of the postal matter stack. A wire 16 is held stretched between a holder slide 7 and a wire mounting member 17. Springs 14 and 15 are elongated with movement of the support plate 4 caused by the gravitational force of the stack. The springs 14 and 15 provide increasing forces tending to restore their initial length with their elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Kuroda, Yasunori Kikuzato
  • Patent number: 6623001
    Abstract: In a sheet stacking apparatus, in particular spiral slot stacker, one determines the relative position of a group of sheets 7A, 7B, for example distance ta between the sheets or total length tL of overlapping sheets. Sheet sensor 16 is mounted for this purpose at a large distance before input point 15 so that irregularities such as distance and/or overlap within the group of sheets 7A, 7B are taken into account and corresponding steps can be taken before leading sheet 7A is fed into stacker slot 2 of stacking wheel 1. Depending on the kind of irregularity ascertained, stacking wheel 1 is stopped, slowed down or accelerated to permit collision-free feed of the group of sheets into common slot 2 or into separate slots 2. In special embodiments one influences the sheet speed by means of separately controllable transport path segments 12a, 12b, and/or input point 15 by means of control finger 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Steinkogler, Thomas Hildebrandt, Michael Stapfer
  • Publication number: 20030155703
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for the marking sections of a stack of items, such as mail items, to be sorted in sorting machines according to a distribution order. After reading and allocating a destination address to the stopping points of the distribution order, the last or the first and the last mail item of a section of a stack to be distinguished in a stack is automatically provided with an easily removable sticker, well visible in the stack, by an sticker dispenser, which is placed in the sorting machine after the reading unit for the distribution information and before the distribution unit. The stickers are then removed again during the distribution of the mail items to the receivers of the mail items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Armin Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20030146564
    Abstract: Method of raising sheet-like products (2), in particular printed products, which are taking part in a conveying process and follow sequentially one after the other, the products (2) resting, at least in certain regions, on a conveying means (1) during the conveying process, it being the case that, for at least a period of time of the raising operation, gravitational force being overcome in the process, the products (2) are pivoted actively about an axis (B) which extends essentially parallel to the direction (A) in which the conveying process is oriented immediately prior to the raising operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Walter Reist, Willi Leu
  • Publication number: 20030137098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stacking device for flat postal items standing on edge. The stacking device comprises guide means for guiding the postal items supplied to it to a stacking position on a stacking base against a support wall on which the postal items are slowed down. Of course the present invention may apply to other types of articles as well. The stacking device is further provided with a stacker plate that can be displaced in the direction of stacking along a linear guide. The stacker plate cooperates with a spring element to produce a pressure force that is approximately constant across the zone of displacement and that is directed against the forming stack. The movable part of a damper element is fastened on the movable part of the spring element, said damper element being only active when a displacement directed away from the stacking position is exerted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas Gasch
  • Publication number: 20030137097
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for stacking articles. The articles may comprise mail pieces. The apparatus comprises a base having a top surface. The top surface defines a rake element having extending fingers defining open spaces therebetween. A receiving unit is mounted proximate to the rake. The unit may be made to rotate. The unit further comprises a plurality of coils. The coils may be helical, concentric and vertically displaced so as to define a vertical open space therebetween. When rotating, the coils may be made to move in the direction of a support positioned atop the top surface. The support may further comprise a spring bias to urge the support against a stack of articles. A supporting wall is also provided as well as a supply element which directs incoming articles into the vertical opening. The movement of the coils transports the articles to a stack which is support on one side by the support, on another by the supporting wall and on yet another by the top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Enenkel, Armin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6543763
    Abstract: A bank-note processing device wherein disposed between a pair of rotary drums (22, 23) is a stacker lever (53) that presses that portion of the bank-note (31) inserted in bank-note guide slits (22b, 23b) which is positioned on the side of a bank-note reverse-flowing-preventive lever (32) toward a stacker (20) in operative association with the movement of a stacker chute (51), whereby even if a large number of wrinkled bank-notes are received in the stacker, jamming of bank-notes is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Yukio Ito, Yasuyuki Kodama, Noboru Yamagishi, Tadashi Hatamachi
  • Patent number: 6540223
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Publication number: 20020179503
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a mailpiece sorting and stacking apparatus. The sorting and stacking apparatus has a series of stacking bins. Each stacking bin is designed to include a set of kicker fingers that engage the trailing ends of the mailpieces traveling towards a stop registration wall in each stacking bin. The stop registration wall in combination with the spring force exerted by the kicker fingers against the trailing ends of the mailpiece cause the end of each mailpiece to engage the outside surface of a pressure mailpiece conveying roller. The pressure mailpiece conveying roller is part of the conveying roller assembly leading to the stacking bin. The periphery of the pressure mailpiece conveying roller along with the deflection force against the trailing end of each mailpiece caused by the kicker fingers causes each mailpiece to stack against a pressure paddle inside the stacking bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Anthony E. Yap
  • Publication number: 20020070496
    Abstract: A bank-note processing device wherein disposed between a pair of rotary drums (22, 23) is a stacker lever (53) that presses that portion of the bank-note (31) inserted in bank-note guide slits (22b, 23b) which is positioned on the side of a bank-note reverse-flowing-preventive lever (32) toward a stacker (20) in operative association with the movement of a stacker chute (51), whereby even if a large number of wrinkled bank-notes are received in the stacker, jamming of bank-notes is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Yukio Ito, Yasuyuki Kodama, Noboru Yamagishi, Tadashi Hatamachi
  • Patent number: 6398204
    Abstract: A stacking apparatus for stacking flat articles on edge is provided where each article has a front perimeter edge and two faces and the stacking apparatus receives each flat article as it enters the stacking apparatus moving in a direction generally parallel to the face of each article. The stacking apparatus includes a discharge magazine for sequentially receiving and stacking the flat articles face-to-face in an on-edge stack. The discharge magazine includes an article inlet, a register wall wherein the front perimeter edge of each envelope contacts the register wall to align each front perimeter edge of each article as the articles enter said stack. The discharge magazine further includes an article face support member, wherein a face of one of the flat articles abuts the article face support member, and a segmented roller for receiving and aligning the flat articles for insertion into the on-edge stack. The segmented roller includes a rotatable segmented cylinder having a longitudinal central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: KFW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Keane, Donato C. Farole, Glenn A. Nester
  • Patent number: 6394444
    Abstract: A bank-note processing device wherein disposed between a pair of rotary drums (22, 23) is a stacker lever (53) that presses that portion of the bank-note (31) inserted in bank-note guide slits (22b, 23b) which is positioned on the side of a bank-note reverse-flowing-preventive lever (32) toward a stacker (20) in operative association with the movement of a stacker chute (51), whereby even if a large number of wrinkled bank-notes are received in the stacker, jamming of bank-notes is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
    Inventors: Yukio Ito, Yasuyuki Kodama, Noboru Yamagishi, Tadashi Hatamachi
  • Patent number: 6331000
    Abstract: A media storage system for an automated banking machine (10) includes a flipper member (90, 178) which is rotationally movable to engage sheets. A gripper member (138, 182) is movably mounted relative to the flipper member. The flipper member further includes an arcuately extending slot (92, 180). The sheet extending in the slot is held in fixed engagement with the flipper member by the gripper member. Rotation of the flipper member to a releasing position causes the sheet to be engaged with a stop surface (160, 188) as the gripper member moves to release the sheet. Sheets released by the flipper member are positioned in a stack (94, 184). The flexible flap (160) engages each sheet after it has been released by the flipper member to conform the sheet to the stack. In alternative embodiments a flipper member (178) includes a picker portion (202). Picker portion is selectively operated to remove sheets from the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated
    Inventors: William Daniel Beskitt, Michael J. Harty, Jeffrey Eastman, Richard J. Phelps
  • Patent number: 6290221
    Abstract: A sheet stacking and conveying unit that have a first end and a second end includes: a sheet stacker to stack sheets conveyed in the first direction in order; a conveyor to convey a lowest stacked sheet in the second direction that is opposite to the first direction by contacting the lower surface of the sheet; a sheet pressing member to apply a specified pressing force to a conveyor via a sheet by contacting the top of a sheet stacked in a stacker and a receiving portion provided to a sheet pressing member and to receive the first end of a sheet that is next stacked in a stacker. Further, this unit includes a driving mechanism that drives a sheet pressing member, drops a sheet received by a receiving portion on the top of a conveyor, clamps it between a conveyor and a sheet pressing member and receives a sheet that is next conveyed to a stacker by a receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Taniyama
  • Patent number: 6283470
    Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus capable of stacking discharged sheets in the shape of bundle, including a sheet stacking device so positioned that the downstream side in the discharging direction is higher than the upstream side and serving to stack the sheets, a sheet receiving member so provided as to project from the sheet stacking device and serving to receive the upstream end of the sheets on the sheet stacking device, a sheet advancing device for advancing the sheet onto the sheet stacking device, an elastic annular sheet trailing end aligning member rotatably provided in the vicinity of the sheet advancing device and serving to move the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking device toward the sheet receiving member, and a pivotally movable regulating member provided in a vertically pivotable manner in the vicinity of the sheet advancing device and provided with an inclined face adapted to descend after the sheets are discharged onto the sheet stacking device and to guide, in the descended state, the trailing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuaki Hirai
  • Patent number: 6250626
    Abstract: A sheet discharging apparatus adapted to receive a sheet conveyed thereto, the sheet discharging apparatus has a pair of axes situated parallel to each other at a predetermined distance away from each other, the axes being located along two side edges of the sheet, and rotated in directions opposite to each other; a pair of supporting devices, each supporting device rotatably attached to each of the axes and having at least one supporting portion for supporting the side edge of said sheet; urging devices attached to the respective axes and pressing rear portions of the supporting devices forward; engaging members attached to the axes respectively, each engaging member engaging each of the supporting devices pressed by the urging devices so that the supporting device and the axis are joined to rotate in the same direction; and engaging portions formed at respective front portions of the supporting devices, each engaging portion having a recess and a protrusion alternately formed along a rotating direction of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6220592
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a stacking device for stacking a sheet, a delivering device for delivering the sheet to the stacking device, and a pulling device for pulling in a direction opposite to a delivery direction the sheet delivered to the stacking device. The pulling device is structured to keep approximately constant a contract pressure exerted to the topmost sheet delivered on the stacking device, and the pulling device is formed in a tapered shape whose one end is narrower than the opposite end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Hayashi, Tsuyoshi Yamada, Yuji Morishige, Kazuo Onodera